By Brenda Chidinma Imoeze
Ten persons from Ndieke Ndiagu in Amagu community of Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, were arraigned and remanded for attempting to murder one Nwenyim Oroke, by given him machete cuts on the forehead on August 11, 2019.
The accused persons are facing two count charges of conspiracy and murder. The suspects are, Ugbala Innocent Ogbonnaya, Igwe Sunday, Nwede Augustine, Ernest Nwoba, Igboji Sunday Ogbonnaya, Ukwa Chibueze, Anthony Nwafor, Igboji Chukwuemeka, Igwe Ifeanyi and Nwanchor Wisdom. They were charged in suit no. MAC/612/2019.
The defence council, Barrister Iteshi Ogbe, asked court to strike out the case as it has no jurisdiction to hear the matter, stating that the matter happened in Ikwo and should be tried there or it should grant the accused persons bail based on its lack of jurisdiction to trial the case.
He argued that if the court will not strike the case out, it should consider granting the accused bail so that they can be coming from home for their trail, stating that remanding the suspects in prison custody would amount to prison congestion, which the system has highly kicked against.
The prosecutor, Sgt. Bassey Okoye, kicked against granting bail to the accused, maintaining that they committed a capital offence and if found guilty they will be given life imprisonment.
Presiding over the matter, the Magistrate, Blessing Ibe Abuchi Chukwu maintained that the accused persons be remanded in prison custody since the court lacks the jurisdiction to try the case, while the case file be transferred to director of prosecution, while she reminded the accused persons of their right to apply for bail in the high court.
The case was adjourned to September 30.
