An Abakaliki Magistrates’ Court on Thursday ordered the remand of five men accused of robbery and the m**der of a youth in Ndienwuru Village, Ekoli-Edda, Ebonyi State.
The defendants are:
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Amarachi Irem, 27
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Oledi Philip-Nsi, 26
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Ogbu Nkama, 22
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Chibueze Nnachi, 36
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Okoro Stanley-Onuu, 39
They face a four-count charge of conspiracy, m**der, armed robbery, and unlawful possession of firearms.
In addition, Philip-Nsi is separately charged with the attempted m**der of Dr. Eni Uduma-Chima, Chairman of Ebonyi State Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited, on June 1 at Ekoli-Edda.
Chief Magistrate Sandra Onyibe declined to take their plea, citing lack of jurisdiction over m**der charges, and ordered their remand in a correctional facility. She also rejected the bail application by defence counsel Sunday Ajah, and directed that the case file be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice. The case was adjourned to October 2 for further report.
Police prosecutor Eze Ndubuaku informed the court that the offences were committed on July 9 in Ndienwuru Village. He alleged that the defendants conspired to commit m**der, shot and killed one Udu Nnachi-Orji, and robbed a truck valued at ₦39 million, property of Dr. Eni Uduma-Chima.