By Simdi Gloria:-
Seven persons accused of being behind the 2017 killing of indigenes of Idumuje-Ugboko Community of Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State, on Thursday, challenged the propriety of the decision by the Federal Government to prosecute them in Abuja.
The seven – Nwochie Light, Aikhomo Omezi, Okey Ifejoku, Godwin Aniemeke, Nonso Omefe, Dennis Nwoko, and Emeka Bidoku- in May 2017, allegedly unleashed terror on the community by burning houses by FG, in the charge that was filed by the office of Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF)
At their arraignment on November 2, 2020, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the amended three-count charge brought against them by the prosecution.
At the mention of the case before Justice Okon Abang, lawyers to the defendants informed the court that they have filed an application for the case-file to be transferred to Asaba, Delta State.
“We have a motion for transfer of the matter from Abuja to Asaba or any other jurisdiction that is within the axis.
“We don’t even mind if the case is transferred to Benin, Bayelsa, Port Harcourt, or even Anambra,” lawyer to the first defendant, Prof. Agbo Madaki said.
Shuaibu Labaran, the Lead prosecuting lawyer, sought an adjournment to enable him to respond to the application for transfer filed by the defendants.
Justice Abang deferred hearing of the Defendants’ application till Friday.
Some counts in the amended charge against the Defendants read: “That you, Nwochie Light, Aikhomo Omezi, Okey Ifejoku, Godwin Aniemeke, Nonso Omefe, Dennis Nwoko Alias Uwadiegwu, and Emeka Bidoku Alias Onyeboundle of ldumuje-Ugboko community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta between May 18 and 25, 2017 at ldumuie-Ugboko community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta, within the jurisdiction of this court, did conspire with others still at large to commit acts of terrorism.
You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.
“That you, Nwochie Light, Aikhomo Omezi, Okey Ifejoku, Godwin Aniemeke, Nonso Omefe, Dennis Nwoko and Emeka Bidoku of ldumuje-Ugboko community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta between May 18 and 25, 2017 at ldumuje-Ugboko community, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta within the jurisdiction of this court, did commit an act of terrorism, in that you and others still at large participated in an attack on members of ldumuje-Ugboko community and killed one Cyprain Kumaorun
You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 1(2)(e) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.”
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