…breakthrough in the Sommie Maduagwu murder investigation began with the arrest of Shamsu Hassan.
Abuja, Nigeria — The iNews Times reports that fresh revelations have emerged in the ongoing Sommie Maduagwu murder trial, as a senior police officer detailed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory how the suspects linked to the killing of the Arise News anchor were arrested.
The Sommie Maduagwu murder, which has drawn national attention since it began, continued on Tuesday with the third prosecution witness, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Maxwell Eje, narrating the sequence of arrests that followed the tragic robbery incident at Unique Apartments in Katampe, Abuja.
Somtochukwu “Sommie” Maduagwu, a journalist and anchor with Arise News, was killed during an armed robbery at her residence on September 29, 2025. A security guard, Barnabas Danlami, also lost his life in the same attack.
Testifying before Justice Mohammed Idris, ASP Maxwell Eje, a member of the Scorpion Squad, Criminal Investigation Department (CID), FCT Command, told the court that the breakthrough in the Sommie Maduagwu murder investigation began with the arrest of Shamsu Hassan.
According to the officer, police investigations revealed on September 30 that Hassan had fled to Zaria shortly after the robbery incident.
ASP Eje explained that security operatives tracked and apprehended Hassan, who subsequently admitted involvement in the crime. The witness told the court that Hassan agreed to cooperate with investigators by providing information about other suspects allegedly involved in the robbery.
This development, he said, marked a critical turning point in the early stages of the investigation now central to the Sommie Maduagwu murder.
Continuing his testimony, ASP Eje informed the court that Hassan identified another suspect, Sani Surajo, who was reportedly receiving treatment at a hospital in Gosa, a suburb located along the Airport Road in Abuja.
“Surajo was shocked at the sight of the security operatives of the Scorpion Squad at the hospital where he was receiving treatment,” the witness told the court.
He added that Surajo also agreed to cooperate with authorities and provided further information about the whereabouts of other individuals allegedly connected to the robbery.
The testimony painted a picture of a coordinated police operation that gradually led to the arrest of additional suspects now standing trial in the Sommie Maduagwu murder.
However, proceedings in the Sommie Maduagwu murder trial were adjourned before cross-examination could begin.
Dennis Abu, counsel for the seventh to eleventh defendants, who also held brief for counsel to the first and third defendants, sought permission from the court to attend a medical appointment. Justice Mohammed Idris granted the request, leading to an adjournment until Thursday, April 23.
The adjourned date is expected to allow for the conclusion of the evidence-in-chief of the third prosecution witness, as well as cross-examination by defence counsel.
Earlier in the day, the prosecutor had informed the court that two witnesses were available to testify at the start of proceedings.
The Sommie Maduagwu murder trial involves eleven defendants charged by the FCT Police Commissioner with conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder in connection with the September 29, 2025 attack at Unique Apartments in Katampe.
The defendants include Shamsu Hassan, Sani Surajo, Hassan Isah, Abubakar Alkamu, Abdulsalam Saleh, Suleiman Badamosi, Zaradeen Mohammed, Musa Umar ‘Aka’ Small, Mashikur Jamil, Suleiman Sani, and Abubakar Usman.
Prosecutors allege that the defendants participated in the armed robbery that led to the deaths of Maduagwu and security guard Barnabas Danlami.
The Sommie Maduagwu murder trial began on February 10, 2026, after earlier delays attributed to the absence of some defendants and procedural issues.
The first prosecution witness, Sani Yusuf, a civil engineer and former resident of Unique Apartments, testified about the events of the night of the attack. The second witness, Fatou Toborteh, also a former resident, provided an account of masked armed assailants raiding apartments within the complex.
Both witnesses stated that the attackers wore masks during the robbery, making it impossible for them to identify any of the eleven defendants currently standing trial.
Their testimonies focused on the chaos and fear that gripped residents during the incident, as armed men reportedly stormed multiple apartments.
The Sommie Maduagwu murder continues to attract widespread public interest, particularly within Nigeria’s media community. Maduagwu’s death sparked conversations about security in residential estates, the safety of journalists, and the growing concerns about armed robbery incidents in the Federal Capital Territory.
Legal analysts say the case will largely depend on the strength of prosecution evidence, including confessional statements and corroborating material presented in court.
At iNews Times, we remain committed to providing accurate, balanced, and in-depth updates on the Sommie Maduagwu murder trial as proceedings continue.
Our newsroom will follow every stage of the trial from witness testimonies to final judgment ensuring readers receive verified and comprehensive information on this high-profile case.
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