Court Sentences Onuwa Ijie To Death, Uzor To 14 Years

Obasempire reports that a High Court in Asaba, the Delta State capital, has sentenced Onuwa Ijie to death and Nwanozie Uzor to 14 years imprisonment for the murder and conspiracy to murder twin boys, Chidalu and Chigozie Agwunobi.

Justice Onome Marshal-Umukoro, who presided over the case, delivered the sentences to the two offenders for the killing of the seven-year-old boys.

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The prosecution, led by Deputy Director in the Ministry of Justice Mrs. Paula Akpoguma, presented five witnesses to support the case.

The court held that the testimony of the five witnesses proved the case against the two defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

The prosecution stated that tragedy struck the family of Olise Agwunobi of Oko-Ogbele Community on March 5, 2020, when their seven-year-old twin boys were lured by the defendants to a bush and they proceeded to cut off their penis, eyes, tongues and hands which they hurriedly took to a native doctor at Aguleri in Anambra State.

“One of the defendants had earlier gone to the school of the twin children to take them but was turned down by the school teacher, one Mrs Emelda Ezekwude,” she said.

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Delivering his judgment, Justice Marshal-Umukoro stated that after carefully evaluating the evidence presented before him, the prosecution had discharged the burden of proof as the first defendant from his confessional statement was the person who sowed the seed of committing human rituals in the mind of the second defendant by giving the phone number of one Chukwudi Edemuzor who was alleged to be searching for twins to kill for money.

The court maintained that the law is settled that the testimony of an investigating police officer was not hearsay evidence, and the court can rely on it.

Speaking with journalists after the judgment on Tuesday, the prosecuting counsel, Akpoguma thanked the court for upholding the cause of justice, “reaffirming that the judicial system works.”

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Federal High Court Judge Warns Kano Governor’s Spokesperson Of Potential Jail Time For Misrepresentation

Obasempire reports that Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Kano has issued severe caution to Sanusi Bature, the spokesperson for the Kano State Governor, admonishing him with the prospect of incarceration due to alleged distortion.

The judge pronounced this warning following his ruling on the Kano State Commission of Inquiry, which Governor Yusuf had instituted.

He directed that an Authenticated Copy of the judgment be promptly given to the Governor’s spokesperson and all media representatives present in the courtroom to prevent any misrepresentation.

Journalists present were left in suspense as the judge reproached state government officials, including Bature, for undermining court decisions with their statements.

Justice Amobeda said: “I know the Governor has immunity, but I have the liberty to jail any of his aides  for unguarded utterances against the decision of the court.”

Justice Amobeda has set a 48-hour deadline for two Kano State High Court judges, Justice Farouk Lawan Adamu and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, to resign from their roles as Chairpersons of Governor Abba Yusuf’s judicial commissions.

The commissions were established to investigate the previous administration of former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, focusing on misappropriation of public funds and political violence.

Since Governor Abba Yusuf assumed office on May 29, 2023, Kano State has been under intense media scrutiny due to ongoing legal disputes and political tensions between Ganduje and Yusuf, as well as other issues like the Emirate crisis.

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