From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
An Abakaliki Magistrate Court has remanded four suspects at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre for evolving a jungle justice of trial by ordeal on two widows and a man.
The suspects; Egwuonwu Jonah, Sunday Obasi, Ogonnaya Eze, Godwin Nwokoro-Obi and others at large were arraigned on 10 count charges bothering on conspiracy, attempted murder/acts intended to cause gracious harm and armed robbery.
They were accused of forcing two widows Nnenna Donatus Nwinyinya and another widow to drink the water used in washing the private part and armpit of a deceased, Innocent Simon after getting congealed mucous from his nose and grounded into a concoction with native kola nut.
The offence was punishable under Section 208 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap.33 Vol.1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.
The suspects were said to have attempted to kill the victims at Mebi-Okpa Okposi Ohaozara, Local Government Area of the State by beating them with sticks, bottles, machetes etc and paraded them half naked around the community on bare foot
The suspects were also accused of having willfully and unlawfully destroyed five Alumaco windows, two iron doors and one wooden door among others belonging to Nnenna Donatus Nwinyinya which values were yet to be estimated.
“That the accused and others now at large on the same date and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did willfully and unlawfully destroyed chairs, beds, plates, pots, three houses, cartons of beer among others and burnt one Hajous Suzuki motorcycle, values yet to be estimated, property of one Jonah Chuku ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code Law Cap. 33 Vol. 1 laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009”; the charge sheet stated.
“That the accused and others now at large, on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did unlawfully direct, control and preside at the trial by ordeal of one Nnenna Donatus Nwinyinya ‘f’ and Jonah Chuku ‘m’ by accusing them of killing one Innocent Simon and subjecting/forcing them to drink the water used in washing the armpit of the deceased, got congealed mucous from his nose, ground into a concoction with native kola nut and thereby committed an offence under Section 208 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap.33 Vol.1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009”, some of the charges against the suspects read. .
The presiding magistrate, Nnenna Ogodo after diligent consideration of the 10 count charges, declined jurisdiction over the case and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Abakaliki correctional centre.
She adjourned the case to the 9th Day of May, 2025 for compliance by the office of the State Director of Public Persecution (DPP).