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The trial of 11 suspects accused of involvement in the killing of Arise News journalist Somtochukwu Maduagwu continued on Tuesday at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, with a police witness giving fresh details on how the accused persons were identified and arrested.
Testifying before the court, an Assistant Superintendent of Police attached to the Scorpion Squad of the FCT Command, Maxwell Eje, narrated how investigators began tracking the suspects following the robbery attack at Unique Apartments in Katampe, Abuja, where the journalist lost her life.
Eje told the court that the breakthrough came after one of the suspects, Shamsu Hassan, was apprehended and interrogated. According to him, Hassan fled to Zaria on September 30, just a day after the violent robbery incident.
The officer explained that during questioning, Hassan admitted involvement and agreed to assist police investigators in identifying other members of the gang.
“He later mentioned Sani Surajo, who was receiving treatment at a hospital in Gosa along Airport Road,” Eje said in his testimony.
He further told the court that the suspect was surprised when security operatives stormed the hospital where he was admitted.
“Surajo was shocked at the sight of the security operatives of the Scorpion Squad at the hospital where he was receiving treatment,” he said.
“However, he also agreed to cooperate and assist with useful information on the whereabouts of others who took part in the robbery.”
According to the police witness, the cooperation of the suspects played a key role in expanding the investigation and tracking other individuals allegedly involved in the crime.
The proceedings, however, did not continue to cross-examination on Tuesday as scheduled. Defence counsel, Dennis Abu, informed the court that he needed to attend to a medical appointment and requested an adjournment.
Justice Mohammed Idris granted the request, and the case was adjourned to Thursday, April 23, for continuation of testimony and cross-examination.
The trial has drawn significant public attention since it began, following the tragic events of September 29, 2025, when armed men reportedly invaded Unique Apartments in Katampe.
During the incident, Maduagwu and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami, were killed. The attackers were said to have been masked, making immediate identification difficult.
The 11 defendants are facing charges bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder, filed by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command.
Since the trial commenced on February 10, 2026, proceedings have experienced intermittent delays, including the absence of some defendants and procedural issues raised by the defence.
Earlier witnesses, including residents of the apartment complex, testified that the attackers were heavily armed and wore masks during the operation, stating that they could not identify any of the perpetrators.
The case is expected to resume later this week as the prosecution continues presenting its witnesses in the bid to establish how the deadly robbery was planned and executed.
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