BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A 24-year-old blind native doctor has been arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, for allegedly fortifying members of the Indigenous People of Biafra accused of causing security breach in the state.
The suspect, Nwefuru Chukwuebuka, in a suit marked, ‘MAB/397c/2021’, was accused of aiding members of IPOB in perpetrating crimes by fortifying them with charms.
The prosecutor, DSP Mathias Ezeh, said the suspect committed an offence punishable under sections 516A(a),443 and 213 of Criminal Code Cap 33, Volume Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
However, the trial Magistrate, Blessing Ibeabuchi-Chukwu, granted him bail to the tune of N1million and two sureties in like sum. The Magistrate said the sureties must be approved by Ikechukwu Mgbaor, the defence counsel in the matter, in order to serve as a guarantee that the suspect would not jump bail.
The charge reads, “That Nwefuru Chukwuebuka (male), and others at large on the 28th of February, 2021 at Nwezenyi Igbeagu in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, in the jurisdiction of this court, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit arson and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 516A(a) of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Volume 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.
“That Nwefuru Chukwuebuka and others at large on this date, place and in the aforementioned magisterial district, did have in your possession all kinds of charms without lawful and reasonable excuse and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 213(b) of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Volume 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”
The matter was adjourned to 28th June, 2021 for hearing.
Recall that, following the increasing rate of insecurity in the state, Governor David Umahi had warned the residents of the state to desist from giving support to the group.
In another development, a 28-year-old man was arraigned in court for allegedly intimidating the people of Nkalagu in Ishielu Local Government Area of the state.
