A Magistrate Court sitting in Umuahia, Abia State presided over by Magistrate Nwankpa Chuks has remanded four persons at the Nigeria correctional service centre Umuahia for alleged murder.
The defendants Amarachi Innocent ‘F’(50years) Obiuto Nwankwo ‘M’(41Years), Ikeagwuchi Jacob (31Years) Iheakachi Onyedinmanazu (40years) and Others at large were said to have on the 31st day of June 2021, at Umunwankwo Village Umuchima Nnaji Autonomous Community in Isialangwa North Magisterial District unlawfully conspired amongst themselves to commit felony to wit; Murder of one Chima Ephraim, thereby committing offence punishable under section 324 of the criminal code cap 80 vol. 3 laws of Abia State 2005.
On the second count, they were said to be at the same place & date with offensive weapons such as machetes, sticks and beat up, wounded one Chima Ephraim all over his body which caused his death and threw his body into a flowing River and thereby committed an offence punishable under sections 319(1) of the criminal code cap 80 vol. 3 laws of Abia State 2005.
The Magistrate Court after hearing the matter, ruled that it lacked Jurisdiction over the matter as it was a murder case and therefore, ordered that the defendants be remanded at the correctional service centre Umuahia, adding that they could apply for bail at a High Court and ordered that the original case file be transmitted to the office of the Attorney -General for further actions.
Speaking with journalists at the court premises after the case, the mother of the deceased, Mrs. Ngozi Ogaloye said her son was allegedly killed, butchered, put into a bag and was thrown into the Imo River by the accused .
Ogaloye said she lost her husband since 2014 at the age of 44 years old, adding that since June 2021 she had been looking for her son who travelled home and was nowhere to be found.
She said a friend who came back home from Lagos for Christmas informed her that her son was killed seven Months ago.
She said one of the accused, Amarachi Innocent who is a wife to the elder brother of the deceased’s father allegedly made a confessional statement of her involvement in the murder while in police custody.
Also speaking Mr. Tony Barry Nwaduba a Justice of peace from Delta state and a cousin to the mother of the deceased described his relation’s murder as pathetic, a strong injustice to human for people to kill the young boy and threw his corpse into a river, and asked for permission to exhume the corpse.
He further appealed to the state Government to look into the matter to prevent subsequent reoccurrence and appreciated the Abia State Police command as they have shown they are professional Police men, for doing marvelously well in discharging their duties.
