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The murdered traditional ruler, Eze Paulinus Ekwueme Ochia I of Ochia Kingdom
By TAIYE AGBAJE
The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police on Wednesday arraigned four suspected members of a militia group who killed a traditional ruler, Eze Paulinus Ekwueme, and five others in Imo.
The defendants were arraigned before Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High court in Abuja on a six-count charge bordering on terrorism offences.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suspects are David Ezekwe, Martins Amadi, Azuogo Lucky and Earnest Obi.
The police, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/641/2026, filed on Sept. 25 by Dabo Yakubu of I-G Special Tactical Squad, accused the defendants and others, at large of committing the offence on or about April 10 at Ohaji/Egbema in Imo.
The police accused Ezekwe, 42; Amadi, 45; Lucky, 46 and Obi, 33 years old, all of Ohaji/Egbema of conspiring to have conspired to commit an act of terrorism.
They were accused of attacking Eze Ekwueme and other persons travelling in a vehicle.
They were also accused of killing Amadi Uchechukwu Emmanuel, Onyiwara Maduabuchi Jornadab, Gift Broaddic, Abraham Lincoln and Otor Benjamin “and burning their bodies in the vehicle that they were traveling in.
The police said the offence is contrary to Section 2(2)(a), read with Section 2(3)(g)(i), (iii) & (vi) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022, among other counts.
When the case was called on Wednesday, Yakubu, who appeared for the prosecution, informed the court that the matter was for arraignment of the defendants.
He prayed the court for the charge to be read to them so they could take their plea.
The defence lawyers, Ugonna Njemanze and Enyisal Lawrence, said they were equally ready for the arraignment.
They however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecution sought a trial date and urged the court to remand them in Kuje Correctional Centre.
But Njemanze, who appeared for Ezekwe (1st defendant), said a bail application had already been filed on behalf of her client.
She sought a permission to take the motion.
On his part, Lawrence, who represented the 2nd to 4th defendants, said he intended to also file his clients’ bail application at a later date.
Responding, Yakubu said he was yet to be served with the 1st defendant’s bail application.
Justice Ibrahim, who ordered the defence lawyer to serve the prosecution with a copy of the bail application, adjourned the matter until Nov. 26 for commencement of trial.
The judge also ordered the prosecution to ensure that they come with their witnesses and warned that the court would not entertain any act of delay in the trial. (NAN)
