Alleged killers of Imo monarch face fresh terrorism charges March 12
Police arraign alleged killer of two Ekiti monarchs
THE two suspects, Jude Iheme and Chika Madukwe, arrested for allegedly kidnapping and killing the traditional ruler of Amanze Obowo Autonomous Community of Imo State, Eze Basil Njoku, are to face fresh terrorism charges at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on March 12.
Iheme, 52, of Amagwu Amanze Obowo Local Council of Imo State and 42- year- old Madukwe of Ndi- Uche Etiti Omuimo Local Council, also of Imo State, allegedly killed the traditional ruler on December 17, 2022.
They reportedly killed the monarch after collecting a N4 million ransom from his family.
The Inspector General of Police ( IGP) filed a three- count terrorism charge against them.
In the charge marked: FHC/ ABJ/ CR/ 575/ 2024, Iheme and Madukwe, alongside others said to be at large, were reported 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 monarch on December 17, 2022.
The IGP also accused them of failure to volunteer information at their disposal to security agencies, which could have led to the 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.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Simon Lough, who is leading the prosecution for the IGP, told the court that the police have amended the charges, following the arrest of more suspects.
He requested a date for the other suspects to be brought to court to take pleas in the amended charges. Justice Binta Nyako granted the request and adjourned till March 12, for fresh arraignment.
The judge ordered that the two defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja and be returned to court on the adjourned date.
MEANWHILE, Ekiti State Police Command, yesterday, arraigned Bubuga Lede, 25, one of the alleged killers of two traditional rulers in the state, before a Magistrate’s Court in the state capital .
Recall that two traditional rulers: the Elesun of EsunEkiti, Oba David Babatunde Ogunsakin, and the Onimojo of Imojo- Ekiti, Oba Olatunde Samuel Olushola, were ambushed and gruesomely murdered by gunmen in January, while returning from a security meeting.