There are strong indications that Imo State is getting notoriety for outrageous and bizarre incidents. But this time, the judiciary is applying appropriate sanctions on those found guilty.
After eleven (11) years of critical investigation and prosecution of the gruesome murder of one Mr Okechukwu Osuji of Owalla Uratta in Owerri North LGA of Imo State, on the 11th of May 2001 by the 1st accused person, Mr Ejike Okoro and 9 others for alleged ritual, judgment was finally declared on the 25th of June, 2013.
Delivering his judgment at the High Court Owerri, Hon Justice C.I. Olokwe convicted seven (7) out of the ten (10) accused persons, and sentenced them to death by hanging. Those that were convicted include the 1st accused Ejike Okoro, Cajethan Okoro, Rapheal Ike, Paul Njoku, Eric Igbo, Chidiebere Njoku and Anayochukwu Unamba.
The remaining three were discharged, they include; Uchenna Udeh, Ikechukwu Ukonu and Boniface Okoro.
The court relied on the evidence of the IPO, Inspector Abiodu Abioye on how he arrested the 1st accused person, Mr Ejike Okoro who took him to where they kept the body of their victim.
Another deciding factor was the statement of Mr Ejike Okoro, where he confessed and narrated how they (the convicted persons) killed the deceased, Mr Okechukwu Osuji, extracted his brain for ritual and revealed also how they drank his blood as an oath/bond for their cult group known as “Aburu Puru Ime Ihe Nile”.
It was after all investigations, that the matter was charged to court in a suit No: HOW/37C/2002, with Barr KC Nwokorie of the Imo State Counsel as the prosecuting counsels.
Almost all the accused had their different counsel defending them with also Barr Oliver Chukwuma from the Legal Aid Counsel. Other lawyers that appeared in the case are Barr B.C Ofoegbu who defended the 1st accused, Barr D.O Agbo among others whose legal fireworks could only exonerate and discharge three of the accused.
It will be worthy to note that all the accused were just between the ages of 18 and 25 as at the time of the dastard act eleven years ago.
