Maduako Igbokwe l Tuesday, February 22, 2022
ONITSHA, Nigeria – An Anambra State High court sitting in Onitsha on Tuesday discharged and acquitted three murder suspects and sentenced one to 25 years imprisonment.
Those discharged and acquitted are Wilfred Ezike Mgbiligba, Chosom Amakaeze and Paul Anozie while Sunday Emenike was sentenced to 25 years imprisonment for murder and conspiracy.
The four who were arraigned on a four-count charge of conspiracy and murder were charged for the murder of Akachukwu Ezebuilo at No. 1, Zik’s Avenue, Fegge Onitsha on 10th September 2018.
Two counts bordered on conspiracy and murder of Akachukwu Ezebuilo and another two -count charge were based on conspiracy and attempted murder of Nnamdi Obumse. The four had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges claiming that they were not at the scene of the incident on the fateful day.
Delivering the judgment, Justice S.N. Odili said the trio of Wilfred Ezike Mgbiligba, Chisom Amakaeze and Paul Anozie have proved their cases, beyond reasonable doubt that they were not involved and present in the murder of the deceased on the day in question.
He however did not exonerate Sunday Emenike from involvement in the conspiracy and attempted murder of Nnamdi Obumse, saying his defence statement was not able to convince the court of his non involvement.
“I am convinced from what he told the court that he was involved in the conspiracy and attempted murder of Nnamdi Obumse. It has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that he was involved and I hereby sentence him to four years imprisonment for conspiracy and 21 years for attempted murder of Nnamdi Obumse. The sentences are to run concurrently”
Pleading for mercy, counsel to the convict, Barr. K. K. Oguejiofor said that the convict was a first offender and had conducted himself orderly through out the four years he was in detention. The lead counsel to the accused, Barr. Chuma Oguejiofor, had in his contribution said that he was happy that his friend, Wilfred Ezike Mgbiligba, has been set free.
Commending the judge, other defence counsels and plaintiff counsels, he however posited that they may head to Appeal court after going through the certified true copy of the judgment sheet to get a better judgment for the convicted Sunday Emenike.
Also two other counsels for the defendants, Barristers Emmanuel Ezemenari and Lawrence Ndukaihe, said that there were 11 accused persons out of which seven were earlier discharged and acquitted for want of evidence.
“We may appeal the judgment after studying it to give better judgment to Sunday Emenike”. Commending the judge for a job well done, the counsel to the plaintiffs, Barr Gozie Obi, said that, ” it was a well deserved judgment for the convict”.
“He is a danger to the society, he should go in for the crime he committed. He was arrested at Awkuzu SARS while he was facing another crime whose investigation was going on”.
