Police detail arrests in Arise News anchor murder case
The trial of 11 suspects accused of killing Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu, an Arise News anchor, continued at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Jabi. Assistant Superintendent of Police Maxwell Eje described how the suspects were tracked and apprehended after the robbery and murder at Unique Apartments, Katampe, Abuja. The court proceedings included accounts from witnesses and updates on the investigation. The matter was adjourned for further testimony and cross-examination.
What happened
- Maxwell Eje testified that the first defendant, Shamsu Hassan, was arrested after fleeing to Zaria following the September 29, 2025, robbery.
- Hassan was apprehended on September 30 and confessed, providing information that led to the arrest of other suspects.
- Hassan identified Sani Surajo as an accomplice, who was found receiving treatment at a hospital in Gosa, Abuja.
- The trial, which began on February 10, 2026, has included testimonies from former residents who described the attack but could not identify the defendants.
- Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned the case till April 23, 2026, for continuation of the witness’s evidence-in-chief and cross-examination.
