By PUNCHYNEWS
EBONYI-Magistrate Court sitting in Abakaliki, Tuesday remanded one Nwali Kingsley, 32, at a correctional facility for allegedly torturing one Nwafor Johnson, to death during cult initiation, in the State.
The suspect and others at large equally participated in the torture of another victim, one Chigbo Ugbala, with stick and machete as they left their victim severely injured.
It was gathered that the deceased, Johnson who died in the process of initiation was thrown into the river by his tormentors, while Ugbala, ran away.
Sources said efforts to trace the deceased’s corpse by the police, had proved futile.
The suspect committed the offence at Ekeugwu-Azuinyaba Secondary School, Azuinyaba, in the Ishielu Local Government Area of the state, on July 10, 2020.
Kingsley was arraigned on four counts charge of murder, conspiracy, cultism and unlawful possession of arms.
The Police Prosecutor, ASP Eze Nnabuaku, told the court that the offences were punishable under sections 516A (a), 319 (1) and 335 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria; and contrary to section 3 (1), (3) and 4 (1), and also punishable under section 5 of Ebonyi State Law prohibiting secret cult activities and carrying of offensive weapon, Cap. 12, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
The charge read, “That you Nwali Kingsley ‘m’ and others now at large on the 10th day of July , 2020, at Ekeugwu-Azuinyaba Secondary School, Ishielu LGA, in the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit: Murder/grievous harm/cultism and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516A (a) of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
“That you Nwali Kingsley ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District did murder one Nwafor Johnson ‘m’ and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
“That you Nwali Kingsley ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully do grievous harm to one Chigbo Ugbala ‘m’ by flogging him with machete and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 335 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
“That you Nwali Kingsley ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date and place and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did belong to a secret cult group known as “Ayes Confraternity” and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 3 (1), (3) and 4 (1) punishable under section 5 of Ebonyi State Law prohibiting secret cult activities and carrying of offensive weapon in Ebonyi State, Cap. 12, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”
The suspect, who was not represented in court, confessed to the crime and said, “I was lured into the act by my friends, who have all run away. Please, have mercy on me.”
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Nnenna Onuoha, said the court lacked the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.
Mrs Onuoha directed that the accused person be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre Abakaliki, while his case file be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecution, for necessary legal action.
The matter was adjourned to Friday, August 7, 2020.
