How police tracked suspects linked to Arise TV news anchor’s death

A witness has told the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court in Abuja how police tracked and arrested suspects linked to the killing of Somtochukwu Maduagwu, an Arise News anchor.

Testifying as the third prosecution witness on Tuesday, Maxwell Eje, an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) attached to the scorpion squad of the FCT criminal investigation department (CID), narrated the sequence of arrests following the September 29, 2025, robbery at Unique Apartments in Katampe, where Maduagwu lived.

Eje told the court that Shamsu Hassan was the first suspect to be arrested after investigators discovered he had fled to Zaria, Kaduna, a day after the incident.

He said Hassan later confessed to participating in the robbery and provided information that led operatives to other suspects.

According to Eje, Hassan identified Sani Surajo, who was receiving treatment at a hospital in Gosa, along Airport Road in Abuja.

Eje said Surajo was surprised when operatives arrived at the facility but subsequently cooperated with investigators and offered details that aided further arrests.

Proceedings were, however, stalled before cross-examination.

Dennis Abu, counsel to the seventh to 11th defendants — and who also represented the first and third defendants — requested permission to be excused for a medical appointment.

Mohammed Idris, the presiding judge, granted the request and adjourned the case to April 23 for continuation of the witness’s testimony and cross-examination.

The FCT police command had filed charges against the 11 suspects, bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder.

On September 29, about 15 armed men invaded Unique Apartments, a 16-flat, four-storey building in the Katampe area of Abuja, the nation’s capital.