ALO CHUKWU V. THE STATE

S. M. A. BELGORE, J.S.C. (Delivering the Leading Judgement): The charge against the appellant, Alo Chukwu, at the trial court, was that he murdered one Wilfred Ned George on 6th day of August. 1983 at George - Ama, Okrika in the Port Harcourt Judicial Division of Rivers State, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 319 of the Criminal Code. The 6th day of August 1983 was the day of the election for the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria all over the Federation and the appellant was one of those policemen posted to George - Ama to maintain law and order. The deceased, Wilfred Ned George, was a Presiding Officer at George - Ama. At the end of the voting the deceased together with other persons concerned with the officiating at the various polling stations, including the appellant and other policemen, went to the George - Ama waterside to join a boat to convey them and their voting materials to Okrika mainland. It was when they were thus awaiting the arrival of th…