A Kaduna State Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Kaduna, on Thursday, set free two of the three suspects arrested for causing the death of Nigeria’s first female fighter helicopter pilot, Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile.

However, the first suspect, Nehemiah Adejor, who drove the car that knocked down the victim, is to be charged with culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy before the state High Court.

When the case came up at the Magistrates’ Court 1, on Thursday, the police prosecutor, Martins Leo, prayed the court to discharge the 2nd and 3rd defendants, Folorunsho Igbekele Faith and Gbayegun Deji, as investigation did not find them culpable.

Chief Magistrate Benjamin Hassan, while ruling on the prayer, discharged the 2nd and 3rd suspects based on the outcome of police investigation, which did not find them wanting, and the legal advice from the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Bayero Dari, that they had no case to answer.

The legal advice also indicated that Arotile’s death was not premeditated, but “there is sufficient evidence to prosecute the 1st suspect, Nehemiah Adejor, for culpable homicide not punishable with death.”

It read in part, “On the 14 day of July, 2020, the suspects, all male of Auta Alkali Farin Gida, Mando, Kaduna, inside a Kia Sorento with number plate, Kaduna AZ 478 MKA, being driven by the 1st suspect, sited the deceased (NAF/4512F Flying Officer Tolulope Arotile) at the NAF Base, Kawo, Kaduna, whom they identified as their school mate at the Air Force Secondary School, Kaduna.

“In his cautionary statement, the 3rd suspect corroborated the statement of the 2nd suspect in all material particulars as to the events of July 14, 2020, as they relate to the death of Flying Officer Tolutope Arotile at the NAF Base, Kaduna.

“It is clear also from the investigation done that the 2nd and 3rd suspects were passengers and friends of the 1st suspect, who was driving the vehicle.

“From the foregoing, there is sufficient evidence to prosecute the 1st suspect for the offence of culpable homicide, not punishable with death, contrary to Section 191 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017, as there is no premeditation in the death of the victim.

“There is, however, insufficient evidence against the 2nd and 3rd suspects as the entire investigation did not disclose any offence against them other than being passengers in the vehicle of the 1st suspect.”

The Kaduna State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, told reporters that the Adejor would be arraigned before the state High Court for culpable homicide not punishable with death on September 3, 2020.