Ebonyi court remands 55 persons for alleged murder, others

The Ebonyi State Police Command, yesterday, arraigned one Ojo Monday and 54 others before an Abakaliki Magistrates’ Court for alleged murder, arson and destruction of property.

The defendants, it was alleged, were responsible for killing, destruction of buildings and illegal possession of fire-arms during the crisis that erupted between the people of Effium and Ezza Effium in the Ohaukwu Local Council of the state recently.

The Police Prosecutor, ASP Mathias 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 and Section 3 of the Robbery an
d Firearms Act, Cap R, 11, Laws of Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as amended.

The defendants were not represented in court and, therefore, no bail application was made on their behalf.

Chief Magistrate Nnenna Onuoha 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 Prosecutions (DPP) for necessary legal advice.

She, however, adjourned the matter till February 19, 2021 for report of compliance.