Aftermath of Jungle Justice: Court Remands 4 Suspects Over Trial by Ordeal, Ostracism, Banishment of 2 Widows, 12 Children

Aftermath

By Towncriernews 

An Abakaliki Chief Magistrate Court presided by Chief Magistrate, Mrs Nnenna Ogodo has remanded four suspects for embarking on a jungle justice in which they administered trial by ordeal on two widows with a man.

The accused persons; Egwuonwu Jonah, Sunday Obasi, Ogonnaya Eze {Boss}, Godwin Nwoko-Obi and others now at large according to the charge sheet number MAB/181c/2025 made available to newsmen were arraigned on 10 count charges among which are conspiracy, attempted murder/acts intended to cause gracious harm and armed robbery.

The arraigned suspects and others now at large on the 21st day of February, 2025 at Mebi-Okpa Okposi Ohaozara, Ebonyi State within the jurisdiction of the court did unlawfully attempt to kill one Nnenna Donatus Nwinyinya ‘f’ and Jonah Chuku by beating them with sticks, bottles, machetes etc and paraded her half naked around the community on bare foot and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 320 (1) of the Criminal Code Law Cap. 33 Vol. 1 laws of Ebonyi state of Nigeria 2009.

According to the said Charge Sheet, the accused and others now at large on the said date and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did with intent to maim, disfigure or do some grievous harm, unlawfully subjected their victims to drink contaminated water used in washing the armpit of the corpse of one Innocent Simon ‘m’, got congealed blood mucous from his nose, ground into concoction with native kola nut and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 332(5) of the criminal code law Cap. 33 Vol.1 laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.

The suspects were also accused of having willfully and unlawfully destroyed five Alumaco windows, two iron doors and one wooden door among others which values were yet to be estimated, property of one Nnenna Donatus Nwinyinya ‘f’ 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.

“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.

The presiding magistrate after diligent consideration of the 10 count charges declined jurisdiction over the case, and  adjourned the case to the 9th Day of May, 2025 for compliance by the office of the State Director of Public Persecution (DPP).