Suspect arrested for ‘murder’ dies in police custody in Abuja

Erasmus Emhenya, a suspect arrested over alleged murder, has died in the custody of the police in the federal capital territory (FCT).

According to the police, Emhenya and Benjamin Agbasi were arrested over alleged involvement in the murder of Blessing Ogbu, a 25-year-old.

The murder of Ogbu was said to have occurred in front of Number One Hotel, Nyanya, Abuja.

However, Emhenya died in police custody on April 6.

Reacting to the development, Josephine Adeh, FCT police spokesperson, in a statement on Wednesday, admitted that the suspect died in police custody but said he was not tortured to death.

The police spokesperson said an autopsy to determine the remote causes of the suspect’s death has commenced.

“Preliminary investigations by the command has however revealed that the suspect was not tortured to death by the police,” the statement reads.

“Meanwhile, the acting commissioner of Police, FCT police command, DCP Ahmed Musa, has ordered discrete investigations into the remote and immediate cause of death, of the deceased suspect while in police custody.

“In the same vein, as part of the ongoing investigations, an autopsy to determine the remote cause of his death, has since commenced and the report of the medical examiner is being awaited.

“The command leadership, while calling for calm, wishes to state categorically, that the suspect was not tortured while in police custody.

“The CP noted that this would no doubt be further substantiated, upon the conclusion of the autopsy and other investigative processes in the matter.

“He equally assured that the process would be transparent and the report would be made public in due course.

“The command assures the general public of its unwavering commitment to upholding the rule of law and respect for the fundamental rights of all residents in the FCT.”