Two police officers have been ordered to remain at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre over the alleged killing of a 22-year-old University of Port Harcourt graduate, Anthony Obodo.

The order was issued on Thursday by a Port Harcourt Magistrates’ Court after Corporal Alfred Louis and Police Constable Michael Ejekwu were brought before the court on a remand warrant.

The officers are among four policemen dismissed in connection with Obodo’s death on August 27 at Ada George Junction, Port Harcourt. The other dismissed officers are Assistant Superintendent of Police Fabian Kpeanabari and Inspector Solomon Nworgu.

While Kpeanabari was not brought to court, Nworgu is reportedly still at large.

The Chief Magistrate, Helen Hardy, declined to have the charge read and no plea was taken. She ordered that Louis and Ejekwu be remanded at the correctional centre and directed that the case file be forwarded to the Chief Registrar for reassignment.

The matter was adjourned until September 22, when the accused are expected to enter their pleas and the case may proceed to trial.

Reacting to the development, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, Chinedu Maduba, questioned why only two of the officers dismissed over the incident were brought before the court.

Maduba said the Commissioner of Police explained that Kpeanabari’s dismissal required ratification by the Police Service Commission because he is an Assistant Superintendent of Police.

He added that the police commissioner assured him that efforts were being made to fast-track the ratification so that Kpeanabari could also be brought before the court.

The case has sparked public outrage, protests and calls for justice from Obodo’s family.

The incident reportedly occurred around 5pm on August 27 after Obodo allegedly failed to stop when police officers flagged down his vehicle. An eyewitness claimed that one of the officers fired at the vehicle, hitting Obodo, before the car veered out of control and struck three people.

Obodo’s father, Princewill Obodo, alleged that his son was deliberately targeted and demanded accountability.

He also claimed that the officers had initially been deployed to provide security during the Nigerian Bar Association conference at the Yakubu Gowon Stadium in Elekahia before being redeployed to the area where his son was killed.