24th January, 2020
By Okafor Ofiebor
The alleged murder trial of suspected serial killer, Gracious David-West was temporarily stalled on Friday at the State High Court, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, due to the absence of lawyer to accused in court.
When the case was called up for hearing, Vincent Chukwu, counsel to the accused was absent in court.
Justice Adolphus Enebeli, the presiding Judge was not particularly happy that Chukwu was not in court on Friday but said that he could not withdraw from the case.
In the past appearances, Chukwu had represented the accused serial killer. At one of such appearances, he reminded the court of the sum of N60,000 belonging to his client allegedly held by police at time he was arrested.
He had told the court his client would need the money, prompting Justice Enebeli to order the prosecuting counsel, Chidi Ekeh, to reach out to Police to provide the N60,000 in their custody.
David-West is standing trial for alleged murder of women in hotels in Port-Harcourt and other cities in Nigeria.
He is facing nine-count of murder and one count of attempted murder and had pleaded not guilty to all the charges, although he earlier pleaded guilty to nine charges of murder and not guilty to one charge of attempted murder.
A witness who testified against David-West had said the alleged serial killer took belongings of his victims after killing them.
Police Sergeant, Ogbomudia Emegbokuro, a prosecution officer, told the court that the alleged serial killer took the belongings of his victims such as phones, handbags, jewelry and cash.
He said the accused serial killer used kitchen knife to threaten his victims, making them disclose their passwords with which he withdrew money from their accounts.
Emegbokuro stated these when he gave findings from investigation conducted by Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
He said that the accused serial killer took the life of more than one victim in hotels in Oyigbo and in Port-Harcourt, adding that the accused actually took the life of his victims.
He said a police team intercepted vehicle the alleged serial killer was travelling and had arrested him on way to Akwa Ibom State.
Emegbokuro said the alleged serial killer was questioned after the arrest and that he confessed to killing his victims.
The witness said that David-West was interrogated by the Commissioner of Police who had referred the case to SARS for further investigation.
Counsel for the second accused was, however, present in court on Friday as was his client.
Nimi ThankGod faces one count charge of misconduct with corpse where she allegedly dumped body of one of the victims in a dumpsite. She had moved the body out of Torox hotel where she was manager.
She had pleaded not guilty when the charge of misconduct with corpse was read to her and she had been out on bail.
Presiding judge, Justice Enebeli, adjourned the case to 24 February with the expectation that the alleged serial killer’s lawyer would be in Court at the adjourned date.