Nehemiah Adejor, the first suspect in the killing of Nigeria’s first female combat helicopter pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile, is to be tried for culpable homicide not punishable by death.
A Chief Magistrate Court 1 presided over by Chief Magistrate Benjamin Hassan in Kaduna gave the ruling on Thursday.
However, the court discharged the 2nd and 3rd suspects, Folorunsho Igbekele Faith and Gbayegun Deji, after police investigation into the July 14 incident exonerated them.
The court said it also relied on the legal advice from the state’s Director of Public Prosecution, Bayero Dari that the duo had no case to answer.
According to the Nigerian Air Force, Folorunsho and Gbayegun were passengers in the car which hit the soldier, leading to her death, while Adejor was the driver.
The DPP’s legal advice which was read in court noted that while there was no premeditation in the death of Arotile, “there is sufficient evidence to prosecute the 1st suspect, Nehemiah Adejor, for culpable homicide not punishable with death.”
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The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muhammad Jalige, said, “Based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution, the 1st suspect, Nehemiah Adejor, is going to be arraigned at the State High Court for culpable homicide not punishable with death on the 3rd of September, 2020.”