An Abakaliki magistrate’s court has remanded 19 accused persons for alleged arson and murder of an inspector of police, Mr Festus Akpan, and two others in Ekoli Edda, Afikpo South local government area of Ebonyi State.
The accused persons are 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 accused were all remanded at the state correctional centre.
It would be recalled that the accused persons were alleged to have on Dec. 26, 2022, killed two civilians and an inspector of police at Ekoli Edda community, in Afikpo South local government area of the state.
They were also accused of burning down two houses in the community. They were charged with felony, murder, arson, and unlawful possession of firearms, among others.
When arraigned in court, the police 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 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 Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. Ogodo adjourned the matter to Feb. 24, for a report of compliance.
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