The Federal Government on Tuesday, arraigned four suspects who allegedly kidnapped and killed Eze Basil Njoku, the traditional ruler of Amanze Obowo Autonomous Community of Imo state.
The suspects were docked at the Federal High Court Abuja, on a 5-count amended charge preferred against them by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
The defendants are Jude Iheme, Chika Madukwe, Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke.
They were accused of kidnapping and killing the traditional ruler on December 17, 2022, while he was coming from the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia after collecting a ransom of N4m cash from his family.
The AGF through his counsel, David Kaswe, had invoked sections 174 of the 1999 Constitution and 105 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, to assume trial of the defendants.
In the charge before Justice Binta Nyako, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/575/2024, the defendants alongside others at large were accused of conspiring to commit felony to wit, acts of terrorism contrary to section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
They were also said to have armed themselves with guns and offensive weapons, attacked, kidnapped and killed the traditional ruler on December 17, 2022.
The Federal Government also accused them of failing to volunteer information at their disposal to security agencies which could have led to apprehension of other kidnappers contrary to section 16 of the same Terrorism Act.
At Tuesday’s sitting, the charge was read to them before Justice Nyako, and they all pleaded not guilty.
Counsel to the defendants, Solomon Akume SAN, had sought to move bail application for his clients, but the prosecution counsel raised objection on the ground that he needed to react to some issues submitted before the court.
Meanwhile, Justice Nyako has fixed June 20, for hearing of the bail applications and commencement of trial.
The Judge ordered that the defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their respective bail applications.
Iheme, 52 years of Amagwu Amanze Obowo Local Government Area of Imo and Chika Madukwe, 42 years of Ndi-Uche Etiti Onuimo LGA of Imo state, were said to have killed the traditional ruler on December 17, 2022..
Part of the charge read “That you Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike, 45 years ago and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke, 39 years all of Ehume in Obowo LGA of Imo State between June to August 2023 at Zone 9 Police Headquarters at Umuahia and Special Tactical Squad, Abuja during the police investigation of offence of kidnapping and terrorism of the Royal Eze, Basil Njoku conspired and brought false accusations with intent to cause Nwigwe Emeka Williams to be charged with kidnapping and terrorism of Eze Basil Njoku, you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 125 of the Criminal Code Act.
“That you Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike, 45 years and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke, 39 years all of Ehume in Obowo LGA of Imo State between June to August 2023 at Zone 9 Police Headquarters at Umuahia and Special Tactical Squad, Abuja with intent to mislead the police investigators in the case of kidnap and terrorism of Eze Basil Njoku, you gave false information to the investigators that a drunk man informed you that Nwigwe Emeka Williams is responsible for the kidnap and terrorism of Eze Basil Njoku Knowing or having reason to know that information you gave to police investigators is false and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 125 of the Criminal Code Act 2004.
“That you Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike, 45 years ago and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke, 39 years all of Ehume in Obowo LGA of Imo State between June to August 2023 at Zone 9 Police Headquarters at Umuahia and Special Tactical Squad, Abuja during the police investigation of offence of kidnapping and terrorism of the Royal Eze, Basil Njoku conspired and brought false accusations with intent to cause Nwigwe Emeka Williams to be charged with kidnapping and terrorism of Eze Basil Njoku, you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 125 of the Criminal Code Act.
