By Chuks Eke
The Administrative Judge of Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra state capital, Justice Evelyn Anyadike has ordered the remand of one Echezona Joseph Ezeonyejekwe and two other vigilante operatives attached to Onitsha South Local Government Area Council of the state in Awka Correctional Center till Thursday, June 11, this year when their bail application is expected to be heard and determined.
Jusitce Anyadike who handed down the order shortly after their three-count charge were read before the court and they pleased not guilty to all the charges, ordered both parties to file their bail application and counter affidavit on or before the next adjourned date to enable her hear and determine whether or not to grant the accused persons bail.
Overruling Ezeani Esq. counsel to the accused persons who made an oral application for their bail, she predicated her ruling on the ground that the defence failed to file the application before now, even when the case was earlier slated for hearing on April 14 but the court did not sit.
The police prosecution counsel from Zone 13 Zonal Police Command, Ukpo, Anambra state, A. N. Obo Esq. had pleaded with the court to give a short adjournment to enable both parties file all necessary processes relating to the bail of the accused persons.
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The police prosecutors had on April 14, taken the accused persons back to the police custody at Zone 13 Zonal Police Headquarters, Ukpo on the first hearing date when they got to the court and discovered that the court did not seat.
In Charge No. FHC/AWK/C/73c/2026, IInspector-General of Police, IGP versus Echezona Joseph Ezeonyejekwe, Sunday Azuoma and Chinedu Nwankwo, the accused persons had between September 9, 2025 and April 14, 2026 at No. 93 Silas Works Road, Fegge, Onitsha, Anambra state, conspired among themselves and others still at large and unlawfully had in their possessions three Pump Action Rifles, Prohibited firearms without license.
The prosecution also alleged that the accused persons and others still at large had on the same dates and venue, conspired among themselves and allegedly carried out malicious damages, adding that while acting in concert and armed with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons, they wilfully and unlawfully destroyed three buildings valued at N700 million, property of the complainant, Sabest Uzoeto.
The offences, according to the prosecution, were punishable under Sections 27(1)(a)(I) of the Firearms Act. Cap. F28, 516 of the Criminal Code and 451(1) (B) of the Criminal Code Act. C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The prosecution listed Sabest Uzoeto and ASP Sylvanus Ezenta as prosecution witnesses to rely upon during trials, while the documents to rely upon are statement of Sabest Uzoeto, copy of allocation papers, copy of grant of fencing permits, photographs of the malicious damages, copy of Certificate of Occupancy, C-of-O, copy of Deed of Assignment, while the defendants will rely on their written statement to the police.
