From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
A younger brother to the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, Ikechukwu Odono, Uchenna Odono and three other youths of the area, have been sentenced to death by hanging fo killing a 26 year old man, Chinonso Elon who was popularly known as Oscar.
Odono, Anthony Elom, Chibueze Onwe and Chukwuemeka Ugah were sentenced by Ebonyi State High Court, Ohaukwu Judicial Division after being found guilty of conspiracy and murder of the deceased in the evening hours of 5th February, 2023.
They were said to have committed the crime with one ThankGod Onwe who is now at large.
They reportedly drove a branded Sienna bus belonging to a known political party to Ndulo Umuogudu Akpu road, stopped at the front of the deceased business area, near Okwo Ngbo Main Market in the local government and murdered him.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Esther Otah held that the evidence provided by the Prosecuting Counsel including the eye witnesses accounts proved beyond reasonable doubts that the accused were responsible for the killing of the said Chinonso Elom, stressing that the defense of the defendants were not enough to exonerate them from the crime.
She added that a forensic check on the gun later recovered from the killers also indicated that it was used last on the 5th of February, 2023.
On why they were all served the death penalty instead of singling out Anthony Elom who shot the victim, Justice Otah said that the killers formed a common intention to prosecute the unlawful purpose and they are liable for the eventful outcome of the unlawful purpose they pursued and that one of them was first to shoot the victim was immaterial. “Anthony Elom a.k.a Tidy, you will be hanged with rope until you die. May God save your soul”. Chibueze Onwe a.k.a “Chief oo, you will be hanged with rope until you die. May God save your soul”. Chukwuemeka Ugah a.k.a Parity, you will be hanged with rope until you die. May God save your soul”. “Uchenna Odono, you will be hanged with rope until you die. May God save your soul “. The Judge declared.
Reacting to the judgement, Counsel to the defendants, Chinedu Uwa said he was not satisfied with the Judgement and that he will appeal the judgement.
The prosecuting counsel, Oluchi Ibiam of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice and some lawyers from Ohaukwu Local Government Area who were in the Court, Barr. Chinedu Ugadu and Barr. Chinedu Ituma expressed satisfaction with the judgement and maintained that the verdict by the Judge was a true reflection of justice.