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Afikpo community crisis: 2 men jailed for murder


Two men, Ifeanyichukwu Ogbonnia, 32, and Donatus Isu, 24, were on Tuesday remanded in a correctional facility by an Ebonyi State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Abakaliki for allegedly killing one Azubuike Inya, 46.

The suspects and Inya hail from Amankwo village, Nkpoghoro community in the Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state.

The killing was attributed to an intra-communal crisis involving the people of Amankwo and an indigene of the village, one Chief Donatus Ezeogo Aja.

The police prosecutor, ASP Mathias Eze, said the accused committed the offence on Friday, May 22, 2020, by attacking the deceased with machetes until he died around 8.22pm.

Ogbonnia and Isu were arraigned on two counts of murder and conspiracy.

Eze told the court that the offences were punishable under sections 324 and 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

The charges read, “That you Ifeanyichukwu Ogbonnia, Donatus Isu and others now at large, on May 22, 2020, at Amankwo village, Afikpo North, in the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit; murder, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That you, Ifeanyichukwu Ogbonnia, Donatus Isu and others now at large, on the same date and place, in the aforesaid magisterial district, did unlawfully cause the death of Azubuike Inya by cutting him with machetes, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 34, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”

The defence counsel, Nwode, urged the court to admit his clients to bail.

But the police prosecutor stressed that the offences were capital in nature, hence the suspects should not be granted bail.

In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Nnenna Onuoha, said the court lacked jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.

Onuoha directed that the suspects should be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abakaliki, while their case file should be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for necessary action.

She adjourned the matter till July 21, 2020, for the report of compliance.
(PUNCH.)

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