The traditional ruler of Igga community in Uzo-Uwani local government area of Enugu State, Igwe Herbert Ukuta; former councilor of the community and three other community leaders have been remanded in prison custody for alleged murder and also for being alleged members of a terrorist group.
The monarch who had been in detention for one month and two days at the state criminal investigation department (SCID), was, on Thursday, arraigned by the Enugu State Police Command on a 10-count charge before an Enugu North Magistrate Court 1 along four others.
In the charge No: MEN/ 320c/2024, between the commissioner of police (Kanayo Uzuegbu) and Igwe Herbert Ukuta, 62; Festus Okonkwa, 62; Ofadile Titus Henry, 39; Sunday Ugwu, 26 and Obinna Ayogu, 54, which our reporter obtained, the community leaders were accused of conspiracy, concealing information, being members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN); murder of five persons including two policemen and being members of a terrorist group.
The police said the offences allegedly committed by the accused persons are contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 25(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Section 516(A) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 among others.
Some of the charges read:
“That you HRM Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m, Festus Okonkwa ‘m’, Ofadile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’. Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the day of May, 2024 at about 1315hours along Adarice Farm Road, Adarice in Uzo-Uwani Magisterial District holden in Enugu did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit Membership of a Terrorist Group and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 25(3) and Section 18 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’ Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did join, belong and participate in the activities of Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN) which is a proscribed terrorist group by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an Offence punishable under Section 25(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’ and Obinna Ayogu ‘n’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did recruit Festus Okonkwa ‘m, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’ and others now at large into the membership and activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN) which is a proscribed terrorist group by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 18 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’ and Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did knowingly of the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/ Eastern Security Network (ESN) within Igga Community and Adarice Farm Settlement, concealed and failed to report same to the law enforcement agencies and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16(1)(a)&(b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the 3 day of May, 2024 at about 13:15 hours along Adarice Farm Road, Adarice in Uzo-Uwani Magisterial District holden in Enugu did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: Murder and thereby committed an offence punishable unde Section 516(A) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Police Inspector Nwoga Cornellus ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Police Constable Ikowa Anthony ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Emegoni Aloysius ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkw ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Adada Joshua ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo Titus Henry”, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Eze Fidelis ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
When the charges were read to them, they did not make any plea as the magistrate did not has the jurisdiction to entertain the case as the charges were brought under the federal act.
All the accused were subsequently ordered to be remanded at Enugu Maximum Correctional Centre.
