A suspect, Mr Ugo Emordi, who was recently granted bail during the period of the legal holiday by Justice Kwame Okpu of the Delta State High Court Ogwashi-Uku has been charged with a fresh murder case by the Nigeria Police Force Alagbon in the murder of Mr Chukwunweike Alawo.
The suspect, Mr Ugo Emordi, and others who were charged with conspiracy and murder in the Delta State High Court Asaba (A/M/91C/ COMMISSIONER OF POLICE VS. UGO EMORDI & ANOR) with Hon Justice P. N Obanor presiding have been remanded in prison custody with the case file sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for prosecution considering the offences are capital offences.
Recall that Mr Ugo Emordi, ILoba Obata, Azuka Obata and others were charged with murder, rape and arson in a case involving an attack on the Odogwu (Warlord) of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom Chief Gabrial Ohai.
Our correspondent was told upon his enquiries that Mr Ugo Emordi had initially applied for bail in the court of Justice Onome Umukoro (Court 5) but considering the gravity of the offenses the suspects were charged with, Hon Justice Umukoro set very stringent bail conditions which Mr Ugo Emordi was unable to meet.
In a bizzare twist, the suspect, Mr Ugo Emordi was brought before Hon Justice Okpu during the first few days of the holidays when Hon Justice Okpu was the vacation judge and released on relatively simple bail conditions.
The suspect while on bail was arrested by crack detectives of the Nigeria Police Force at Alagbon for a new murder.
Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that Mr Ugo Emordi, Mr Iloba Obata and others came in broad daylight and opened fire with shotguns at people in Aboh Ogwashi-Uku over a land dispute.
In the process, Mr Chukwunweike Alawo, who was the only child and only son of his widowed mother was killed on the spot.
His corpse was taken away by the DPO of Ogwashi-Uku Police Station who transferred the case for investigation.
Speaking to members of the Aboh Ogwashi-Uku community, a community elder, Diokpa Ralph Okocha expressed his sadness at the incident especially the granting of easy bail to the suspects who are now charged with a new murder.
He stated as follows “We the members of the Aboh community are happy that the suspects have been arrested and charged for the death of Chukwunweike Alawo. It however shouldn’t have ever gotten to this point. We do not understand how people who have been found to have a case to answer and are charged with murder, rape and arson were granted easy bail in the first place. The courts should be more careful in who they consider for bail especially considering the magnitude of some of these capital offenses”.
