Court discharges, acquits 2 suspects standing trial over Ozubulu church massacre

Two remaining suspects who are standing trial for the attack on worshipers at St. Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State have been discharged and acquitted.

The pair were left off the hook by an Anambra High Court sitting in Awka after the presiding judge, Justice Fidelis Aniukwu ruled that the prosecution counsel was unable to prove beyond reasonable doubt, the allegations leveled against the two defendants, Chinedu Akpunonu and Onyebuchi Mbanefo.

Before acquitting and discharging the pair accordingly, Justice Aniukwu, said the prosecution witnesses could not provide convincing evidence linking the defendants with the murder as alleged.

Read also: BAYELSA: Man kills girlfriend for allegedly cheating on him

Recall that four persons were arrested and arraigned following the August 6, 2017, incident which saw gunmen invade the church in a commando style and shot sporadically, killing many as 13 worshippers.

The four suspects- Great Chinedu Akpunonu, 44; Vincent Ike, 57; Chukwudi Ugwu, 30 and Onyebuchi Mbanefo, 46, were arraigned on a 24-count charge in Suit No: HN/36C/2017 bordering on conspiracy and murder.

Two of the four persons charged with attack were discharged by the presiding judge in December 2018, one year after the commencement of the trial, for lack of proper evidence.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now