Ebonyi discontinues trial of 180 defendants in Effium-Ezza-Effium communal clash

The Ebonyi State government yesterday discontinued the trial of no fewer than 180 defendants involved in the Effium and Ezza-Effium communal clash who were standing trial at the Abakaliki Magistrates’ Courts.

Dr Ben Odoh, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, in a letter to the courts, urged them to discharge and acquit the defendants, as the state was no longer interested in pursuing the case.

Chief Magistrate Ojemba Isu-Oko of Court 1 and Mrs Linds Ogodo of Court 2, in their rulings, discharged and acquitted the defendants.

The defendants, who had been in remand at the Ebonyi Correctional Centre for four years, were originally charged in connection with the communal clash.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the defendants were predominantly members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) operating in Effium Motor Park.

It was reported that some of the members hailed from Effium, while others were from Ezza-Effium in the Ohaukwu Local Council of the state.

The clash reportedly began as a disagreement between two factions of the defendants over control of the park but later escalated into a communal conflict between the Effium and Ezza-Effium communities, resulting in loss of lives and destruction of property.

Concerned by the prolonged remand of the defendants, the two communities signed a peace pact in 2024 to end the hostilities.

A delegation from the communities presented the peace pact to the state government, which prompted the decision to discontinue the prosecution of the defendants.