The Federal Government, yesterday, arraigned four suspected terrorists who allegedly kidnapped and killed the traditional ruler of Amanze Obowo Autonomous Community in Imo State, Eze Basil Njoku.
They were arraigned by the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, before Justice Binta Nyako on five count amended charges.
The AGF, through his counsel, David Kaswe, invoked Sections 174 of the 1999 Constitution and 105 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 to assume trial of the terrorism charges.
The four defendants are Jude Iheme, Chika Madukwe, Nwokorie Chidiebere Ejike and Victor Nwajuiba Obumneke. The defendants were accused of killing the monarch on December 17, 2022, while coming from the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, after kidnapping and collecting a ransom of N4 million cash from his family.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/575/2024, the defendants, alongside others said to be at large, were said to have conspired to commit felony to wit, acts of terrorism contrary to section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
They were also said to have armed themselves with guns and offensive weapons, attacked, kidnapped and killed the traditional ruler on December 17, 2022.
Government also accused them of failing to volunteer information at their disposal to security agencies, which could have led to apprehension of other kidnappers, contrary to Section 16 of the same Terrorism Act. When the charges were read to them before Justice Binta Nyako, they pleaded not guilty.
Lead counsel to the defendants, Solomon Akume, SAN, had sought to move bail applications for his clients. It was, however, opposed by the prosecution counsel on the ground that he needed to react to some issues.
Justice Nyako has, however, fixed June 20 for hearing of applications and commencement of trial. The judge ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Kuje Prison, pending the hearing and determination of their respective bail applications.
Iheme, 52 years of Amagwu Amanze Obowo local government area of Imo and Madukwe, 42 years of Ndi-Uche Etiti Onuimo local government area also of Imo State, were said to have killed the traditional ruler on December 17, 2022.
