The two suspected terrorists, Jude Iheme and Chika Madukwe who allegedly kidnapped and killed the traditional ruler of Amanze Obowo Autonomous Community of Imo State, Eze Basil Njoku are to face fresh terrorism charges before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on March 12, 2024.
Iheme, 52 years, a resident of Amagwu Amanze Obowo local government area of Imo and Madukwe, 42 years of Ndi-Uche Etiti Omuimo local government area, also of Imo State were said to have killed the traditional ruler on December 17, 2022.
The defendants were accused of killing the monarch while coming from the Federal Medical Center, Umuahia after kidnapping and collecting a ransom of N4 million cash from his family.
The Inspector General of Police (IGP) filed the three-count terrorism charges against them.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/575/2024, Iheme and Madukwe alongside others said to be at large were said to have conspired to commit felony to wit, acts of terrorism contrary to Section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
They were also said to have armed themselves with guns and offensive weapons, attacked, kidnapped and killed the monarch on December 17, 2022.
The IGP also accused them of failing to volunteer information at their disposal to security agencies which could have led to the apprehension of other kidnappers contrary to Section 16 of the same Terrorism Act.
When the charges were read to them before Justice Binta Nyako, they pleaded not guilty.
Simon Lough (SAN), who is leading the prosecution team for the IGP told the court that the Police have amended the charges following the arrest of more suspects by operatives and requested a date for the other suspects to be brought to court to take plea in the amended charges.
Justice Nyako granted the request and fixed March 12 for the fresh arraignment and ordered that the two defendants be remanded at Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja and be returned to court on the adjourned date.
Count One of the charges reads, “That you Jude Iheme ‘M’ 56 yrs of Amagwu Amanze Obowo LGA of Imo state, Chika Madukwe ‘M’ 42 years of Ndi-Uche Etiti Omuimo LGA Imo State and others now at large on about the 17th December 2022 at 71/2 junction Umumegwu Amanze village Obowo LGA, Imo state within the jurisdiction of this court while acting in concert, conspired together to commit felony to wit: acts of terrorism and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Count two, “That you Jude Iheme ‘M’ 56yrs of Amagwu Amanze Obowo LGA of Imo state, Chika Madukwe ‘M’ 42 years of Ndi-Uche Etiti Omuimo LGA of Imo State and others now at large on about the 17th December 2022 at 71/2 junction Umumegwu – Amanze village Obowo LGA of Imo state, within the jurisdiction of this court while acting in concert and armed with guns and other offensive weapons attacked, kidnapped and killed HRH Eze Basil
Njoku of Amanze Obowo Autonomous Community in Imo State on his way from Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia having collected a ransom of N4,000,000.00 (four million naira) from his family and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 2(2) (f) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Count three “That you Jude Iheme ‘M’ 56 yrs of Amagwu Amanze Obowo LGA of Imo state, Chika Madukwe ‘M’ 42 years of Ndi-Uche Etiti Omuimo LGA of Imo State and others now at large on about the 20th December 2022 at Amanze village Obowo LGA of Imo state within the jurisdiction of this court while acting in concert and having information through your communication with the kidnappers that HRH Eze Basil Njoku of Amanze Obowo Autonomous Community in Imo State was attacked and kidnapped on his way from Federal Medical Centre Umuahia which information was material to the apprehension of the kidnappers, you failed to immediately disclose the information to relevant agencies and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 16(1)(b) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022”.
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