An Abakaliki Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mrs. Patience Ogodo on Wednesday remanded 19 accused persons, for allegedly committing arson, killing an inspector of police, Mr. Festus Akpan, and two other civilians.
The accused persons included Messrs Kenneth Agha (aka Mukoro); Azubuike Okoro; Okporie Oti, Egwu Chinedu; Chimeremeze Umeh; Oburu Orji; Uka Orji; Orji David; Aku Sunday; Oledi Philip; Onyemuche Uka, among others.
The court ordered that the accused persons be remanded in the Abakaliki Correctional Service facility.
It was gathered that the accused persons had, on December 26, 2022, killed two civilians and a police inspector at Ekoli Edda community, in the Afikpo South Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.
According to the Police Prosecutor, the accused were charged with a felony, murder, arson, and unlawful possession of firearms, among others.
The Prosecutor, ASP Chinagorom Eze, told the court that the offences were punishable under sections 516A (a), 42, 319(1), 443 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of the Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
Eze said that the offences also contravened Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms Act, Cap R, 11, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as amended.
The defendants had no legal representation in court; therefore, no bail application was made on their behalf.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. Patience Ogodo, ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abakaliki, while their case file should be transferred to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, for necessary legal advice.
Magistrate Ogodo adjourned the matter to Feb. 24 2023, for a report of compliance.
(championnews.com.ng)
