Four in jail over murder of herbalist

Four men have been remanded in Ebonyi state correctional facility after they were found guilty by an Ebonyi State Magistrate’s Court for killing a 57 year old herbalist, justice kenneth.

They were arraigned before the Magistrate’s Court on two counts of murder and felony, on Monday.

Reports say the accused persons, namely Kelechi Ede, 21; Ezekiel Agom, 23; Oforbuike Nwokpuru, 22; and, Cletus Ogbonna, 27, had gone to the victim’s house at 9 pm on the day of the incident in pretence to buy drugs, allegedly killed Kenneth.

In his confessional statement, the first accused person, said, “I committed the crime. I’m a very close friend of Kenneth’s family. I was in his house on the night of April 10th, 2020, and I stole his N150,000.00. I told him I was going to return the money but I went to visit my friend at Agbaja community in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

At Agbaja community, I met a friend, whom I shared my experience with. He told me he can handle the man. And later he invited one of his friends, and it was then that we agreed that we would kill the man. We are four and four of us went to Kenneth’s house in the night and killed him with a dagger and an axe.”

The Police Prosecutor, Alumona Sabastine, told the court that the offenses were punishable under sections 324 and 319 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

Consequently, the Chief Magistrate, Nnenna Onuoha, directed that the accused persons be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Abakaliki, while their case file was transferred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, for necessary legal action.

She adjourned the matter till May 22, 2020, for a report on compliance.