The arraignment of the five people arrested for alleged torture and murder of a hotel security guard in Bauchi State was stalled on Wednesday after four of the accused tested positive for coronavirus [COVID-19] pandemic.

WuzupNigeria reports that the torture, murder of 23-year-old Sunday Joshua Ezra over a missing small “torchlight” phone occurred on 25 May 2020 at New Trafford Hotels and Suites at Gwallameji area in Bauchi.

Joshua, who was accused of stealing the phone pleaded his innocence, but the suspects – Innocent Ejeh, Abdul-Rasheed Shuaibu, Jacob Joshua, Joshua Ibrahim and Timothy Yunusa – were said to have ignore his pleas and torture him to confess.

Ejeh was the Managing Director of the hotel.

After beating him up, the five were said to have left Joshua in a pool of blood for over 12 hours before he was rushed to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital [ATBUTH], Bauchi by his family where he died after receiving treatment.

The missing phone was later brought back to the owner by someone who had earlier taken it.

But the suspects’ arraignment at the Chief Magistrate Court 7, Yelwa was stalled on Wednesday after the trial Magistrate, Safiya Salihu, received a letter that four of the accused, Abdul-Rasheed Shuaibu, Jacob Joshua, Joshua Ibrahim and Timothy Yunusa, had contracted the disease.

Salihu, who read the letter from the Bauchi Correctional Centre dated June 11th, 2020, said that the four accused were confirmed positive for coronavirus by the National Center for Disease Control [NCDC] in Bauchi State.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) presented before the Court and sighted by our Correspondent, the case is between the Commissioner of Police versus Innocent Ejeh and four others who are standing trial for criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide in accordance with sections 96 and 221 of the Penal Code laws.

When the case was called, the Prosecution Police Officer, Sergeant Ayuba told the court that the accused persons could not be in court due to the reasons stated in the letter from the Correctional Centre in Bauchi and pleaded for an adjustment.

He further told the court that during the sitting of the court on 5th and 8th of June, the accused persons were ordered to be remanded in Correctional Centre custody.

The trial Chief Judge adjourned the case to 14th of July, 2020 for further mentioning and arraignment.