Court Convicts Man For Invading Widow’s Compound With Masquerade

… as lawyers protest journalists’ presence on judgement day

By Joseph Egbeocha

After over ten years of legal battle, a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State, has found one Okechukwu Udeogu guilty and convicted him for invading a widow’s compound with ‘Ovulikpo’ masquerade.

The court, presided over by Chief Magistrate, Dr Mike Anyadiegwu while delivering Judgement, stated that the defendant, Mr Udeogu who hails from Umuanum village in Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, was guilty of three out of the six count charges brought against him and for which he was standing trial before the court.

Among the charges were, that the defendant, Udeogu, forcefully invaded and took over the dwelling house of a widow, one Mrs. Beatrice Udeogu, and began to invoke, plant and worship juju in the said compound, with a view to alarming and causing apprehension in the widow.

In a 15-paged judgment, Dr. Anyadiegwu also found him guilty of other charges bordering on threat to life and assault, resulting in physical injuries on the said widow.

He ordered the defendant to remove all the juju that he planted in the said widow’s compound and restore same to her, forthwith.

It was gathered that the complainant, Mrs Beatrice Udeogu, was the wife of the defendant’s late uncle, who reportedly, has no surviving male child of reasonable sound mind; and that the kindred had adjudicated on the matter in favour of the widow.

However, the defendant’s refusal to abide by the family’s decisions, prompted the long legal battle, which first commenced in 2012, and has passed through three different Magistrates, until the 30th June, 2020, when the defendant was finally brought and arraigned before Dr. Anyadiegwu of Awka Magisterial District, on a-six count charge.

The presiding Magistrate explained that cases are not determined and won on number of witnesses brought to testify before a court; but on the potency and weight of evidence before the court; stating further that, a court, being the last hope of the common man, must at all times, ensure justice for all persons, and especially, the protection of vulnerable persons in the society from the excesses of others.

The case was further adjourned to the 5th day of August, 2022, for sentencing.

Dr. Anyadiegwu, in another development, also found guilty and convicted a middle-aged man, one Nnaemeka Onyerisara, on one count charge of car theft and also adjourned to the case to the 9th day of August, 2022 for sentencing.

Meanwhile, before the commencement of the day’s proceedings, lawyers present in court protested the presence of ABS Judiciary Correspondent, who was on an official assignment at the court, though the protest didn’t deter him from conducting his constitutional duty.

Some of the lawyers who had opposed the media presence, argued that it was improper for the media to cover court’s proceedings on judgement day, alleging that someone could have procured the press to embarrass their clients.