Police Witness Details Arrest Of Suspects In Killing Of ARISE News Anchor Sotomchukwu

The prosecution, on Tuesday, opened up on how 11 defendants standing trial for the alleged murder of Somtochukwu Maduagwu were tracked and arrested, as proceedings resumed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), sitting in Jabi, Abuja.

Testifying before the court, the third prosecution witness, Maxwell Eje, an Assistant Superintendent of Police attached to the Scorpion Squad of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), FCT Police Command, told the court that investigations swiftly led to the arrest of the first defendant, Shamsu Hassan, who allegedly fled to Zaria, Kaduna State, shortly after the September 29, 2025 robbery at Unique Apartments in Katampe, Abuja.

Eje explained that Hassan was apprehended on September 30 and he confessed to his role in the crime, providing crucial information that aided the arrest of other members of the gang.

“Within a short time, our commander called us to say that they had arrested Shamsu, and he confessed to them that one of the suspects was at Gosa receiving treatment, as he was wounded in an accident,” the witness told the court.

According to him, Hassan identified one Sani Surajo as an accomplice, prompting operatives to trace him to a hospital in Gosa, along Airport Road, Abuja, where he was undergoing treatment. Eje added that Surajo was initially startled on sighting the operatives but later cooperated with investigators, supplying further details that led to additional arrests.

However, proceedings were stalled before cross-examination could begin, following an application by defence counsel, Dennis Abu, who represents the 7th to 11th defendants and also held brief for the first and third defendants. Abu sought leave of the court to attend a medical appointment.

Presiding judge, Mohammed Idris, subsequently adjourned the matter till April 23, 2026, for continuation of the witness’ evidence-in-chief and cross-examination. The prosecution had earlier indicated its readiness to present two witnesses during the hearing.

The defendants were facing charges of conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder filed by the FCT Commissioner of Police in connection with the attack, during which late Miss Maduagwu, an ARISE News Channel anchor and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, were killed.

The trial, which began on February 10, 2026, has already featured testimonies from two former residents of the estate, who narrated how masked gunmen carried out the attack but stated they could not identify any of the defendants.