The Edo State Police Commissioner’s bid to arraign Chief Benjamin Ikani before a Magistrate Court in Auchi, Edo State, for alleged trial by ordeal of some natives of Uzanu community is being impeded by the frequent adjournments that the case has suffered.
The Nigerian Criminal Code expressly forbids trial by ordeal, an antiquated technique of establishing guilt or innocence. In particular, the Criminal Code’s Section 207(i) proclaims such trials illegal and specifies consequences for anyone who supervise or take part in them. In the past, the accused was put through a possibly hazardous or painful ordeal in order to establish their guilt or innocence.
Based on the information that is now available, the police filed the case, and the arraignment date was set for December 12, 2024. On January 7, 2025, the Auchi Magistrate Court acknowledged receipt of the complaint. Due to the defendants’ customary lack of attendance in court, the lawsuit has not yet begun, approximately five months after the Police Commissioner filed the complaint. Chief Benjamin Ikani (male, 53 years), Ikpemhi Okogie (male, 27 years), Eshemogie Clifford (male, 30 years), Jimoh Daniel (male, 42 years), Anthony Adamu (male, 53 years), and Akuda James (male, 40 years) are listed as the first through sixth defendants in the case, respectively.
The victims of the trial by ordeal, which was purportedly ordered by Ikani in his capacity as the Oliola of the Uzanu community in the state’s Etsako East Local Government Area, are said to be more anxious as a result of the case’s ongoing adjournments. However, some accounts claim that Chief Ikani is still in possession of the Staff of office, a formal representation of his kingly power, while others claim that the Oliola-in-Council (Kingmakers of Uzanu) has dismissed him from his position as the Oliola by a Council resolution. Seven charges of the lawsuit, which was filed before Magistrate M. Oare, relate to Julie Abide and Esther Okwiufu’s trial by ordeal.
The court documents and filings detail the nature of the defendants’ offences. According to feelers, the victims are concerned that the case is regularly postponed because the accused have failed to show up for court, which they believe could result in the denial of justice.
