Nigeria: Court adjourns murder trial against Ebonyi council chairman

Emmanuel Ajah, the Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area of ​​Ebonyi State, is also accused of armed robbery.

A State High Court in Abakaliki has set Thursday, October 17, to decide on a fiat by Advocate Emeka Uwakwe on the trial of Emmanuel Ajah, the Chairman of Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, for alleged armed robbery, kidnapping and murder.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Mr Ajah and eight other suspects were accused of robbing one Pauline Osita of her N2 million, phone and other valuables on January 17, 2017.

The defendants were also accused of kidnapping Catherine Okorie on January 18, 2017 and killing her on January 22 of the same year.

The other eight suspects are Chibuike Okereke, Mathew Ogbudike, Ezenwa Nwafor, Okoro Ugochukwu, Kelechukwu Azubike, John Nwankwor, Chigozie Okereke and Obichi Uzoigwe.

The lawyer, Mr. Uwakwe, was authorized by the Attorney General of Ebonyi State, Ben Odoh, to prosecute the case.

However, counsel opposed the motion to take over the original prosecutor’s case.

The defense team comprising CN Mgbada, CA Okenu, Ifeanyi Igwe and JN Unah argued against Mr Uwakwe becoming part of the prosecution.

“The reason for this is that he was a member of counsel and was involved in the case from its inception to the present.

“We urge the court to dismiss the Uwakwe fiat application document,” the lawyers said.

After the argument, the judge, Elvis Ngene, adjourned the case to October 17, November 21 and November 28 to rule on Mr Ajah’s request to take over the prosecution of the trial.