The Inspector-General (I-G) of Police on Wednesday arraigned four suspected members of a militia group that killed and burnt a traditional ruler, Eze Paulinus Ekwueme, and five others in a vehicle in which they were conveyed 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 include David Ezekwe, Martins Amadi, Azuogo Lucky and Earnest Obi, named as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.
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 now at large of committing the offence on or about April 10 at Ohaji/Egbema in Imo.
In count one, Ezekwe, 42; Amadi, 45; Lucky, 46 and Obi, 33 years old, all of Ohaji/Egbema, and others now at large, were alleged to have agreed amongst themselves to commit an act of terrorism.
They were alleged to have carried armed attack upon the life of HRH Eze Ekwueme and other persons travelling in a vehicle with him, with the intention of furthering the objective of maintaining or restoring Ezekwe (1st defendant)’s control and influence over the affairs of the community and eliminating persons who opposed that objective which had resulted in death of the said persons.
In count two Obi and others now at large were alleged to have participated and carried out the armed attack on the monarch’s life and other occupants of Toyota Sequaye Jeep.
In the course of the terrorist acts, they were alleged to have killed the traditional ruler, Amadi Uchechukwu Emmanuel, Onyiwara Maduabuchi Jornadab, Gift Broaddic, Abraham Lincoln and Otor Benjamin “and thereafter caused fire to the bodies of the deceased persons and the vehicle in which they were conveyed.”
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.
After the counts were read to the defendants, they pleaded not guilty to all the counts, and Yakubu thereafter 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.
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