Brothers arraigned for killing sibling in Ebonyi

An Ebonyi State Magistrates’ Court sitting in Abakaliki, on Friday, remanded two brothers, Matthew Nwokora, 45; and Amos Nwokora, 37, in a correctional facility for allegedly killing their sibling, Chukwuebuka Nwokora, who was believed to be mentally challenged.

The deceased, it was gathered, had on several occasions boasted that he would kill the first accused person, Matthew before he was allegedly murdered.

It was also alleged that Chukwuebuka on January 14, 2020, met Matthew on a bush path and inflicted machete cuts on his head.

The accused persons chained Chukwuebuka to a tree and on getting there the following morning to give him food, he was said to have died.

It was further learnt that the brothers committed the offence at the Noyo-Alike Ikwo community in the Ikwo Local Government Area of the state on January 15, 2020.

They were arraigned before the court on two counts of murder and felony.

The police prosecutor, Mathias Eze, told the court that the offences were punishable under sections 324 and 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

The charges read, “That you, Matthew Nwokora, Amos Nwokora and others now at large on January 15, 2020, at Noyo-Alike Ikwo, under the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; murder, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria.

“That you, Matthew Nwokora, Amos Nwokora and others now at large, on the same date, place and in the aforesaid magisterial district, did kill one Chukwuebuka Nwokora by chaining him to a coconut tree, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State.”

The defence counsel had applied to the court to admit his clients to bail, but his application was not granted by the court.

Chief Magistrate Nnenna Onuoha said the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

She directed that the accused persons be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abakaliki, while their case file should be transferred to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in the state for necessary advice.

The matter was adjourned till Friday, February 6, 2020, for a report of compliance.