Members of Evbomama community along Sapele Road, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, on Tuesday, protested the release of four persons earlier arraigned in a court in Benin over the murder of one Vivian Frank, killed in her home on August 22, 2022.
The community members, who took their protest to the Talakawa Parliament in Benin City, said the four persons – Gabriel Daniels, Enohi Campaign, Kingsley Onaiwu, Osadolor John, whose identities were revealed by the footage of a Closed-Circuit Television, were arraigned on September 22 and hurriedly granted bail on November 7, 2022.
Speaking to journalists, the Public Relations Officer of Talakawa Parliament, Emmanuel Agbogun, said the murder of Frank, a mother of three, over alleged land issues must not be swept under the carpet.
He called on the Edo State Government, the Chief Judge of the state, and Ministry of Justice to ensure that justice was served in the matter.
He said, “Some gunmen on August 22, 2022 came to the house of Vivan Frank and murdered her. These people decided to kill over land issue. They were arrested and remanded in prison. But on November 7, 2022, the High Court 2 in Edo State decided to grant them bail.
“However, those of us from the civil society are worried about the way the bail application was entertained and granted, especially when it is a murderer case; a capital offence against the state.
“Some of us are worried because the four persons were captured by the CCTV camera committing the crime,” he added.
Julie Esifo also said all they were asking for was that justice should prevail in the matter, as the woman who was killed did not commit any crime and did not deserve to die.
Wilson Osawaru said the Chief Judge should investigate the manner with which the suspects were granted bail, saying the dead also deserved justice.
