Anambra court summons cops as witnesses in murder case

An Anambra State High Court sitting in Otuocha, in the Anambra East Local Government Area of the state, has summoned no fewer than 20 police officers and others as witnesses in a murder case.

The case, it was gathered, would come up before Justice Mike Okonkwo today (Wednesday).

Southern City News gathered that the matter involved the murder of Ikechukwu Opene and Sampson Aliegwu, who were allegedly burnt and buried in shallow graves over a land dispute.

Their skeletons were later recovered by the police some months later.

It was learnt that the incident occurred at Okosa land in Nkwele Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area of the state in January 2018.

The trial of the accused persons initially commenced at the Nteje Magistrates’ Court before it was transferred to the Otuocha High Court.

When the case came up on June 13, 2019, the two principal accused persons, Nonyelum Chukwuka and Ezeayom Chinonso, alias Ikemba, were absent in court.

Their counsel, however, presented a medical report indicating their inability to appear.

Five other suspects, Sunday Okeke, Ifeanyi Samuel, Austine Lucky, Obiorah Okafor, Chukwuka Nnonyelu and Obi Jideofor, were also accused of complicity in the murder.

All the suspects were accused of killing and burning the victims over the Okosa land dispute.

A court source told our correspondent, “The suspects were equally accused of attempted murder of Obinna Okoye and others, while a police sergeant, Sunday Ibe, and others sustained injuries in the shootout that ensued.”