A Makurdi Magistrates’ Court on Friday ordered that a herder, Sule Musa, be remanded in a correctional centre.

The police charged Musa, who lives in Etenyi Igumale, Ado Local Government Area of Benue State with Culpable homicide.

Magistrate Victor Kor did not take the plea of Musa for want of jurisdiction.

Kor ordered the police to return the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.

He adjourned the case until March 3 for further mention.

Earlier, the Prosecution Counsel, Sgt. Ato Godwin told the court that the case was reported by Sunday Ogali, on Dec 19, 2021.

Ato said that the suspect allowed his cattle to graze on the deceased’s farm and destroyed cassava worth one million naira.

He said that the suspect attacked the deceased, Igwe Ogali, with a machete.

During police investigation, he said, the suspect voluntarily confessed to committing the crime.

Ato who said investigation into the matter was ongoing, prayed the court for a date for mention.

He said the offence contravenes the provisions of sections 19(2) of the open grazing prohibition and ranches law of Benue state 2017 and 222 of the Penal Code law of Benue 2004.

-NAN