By Chuks Eke—
Police prosecutors at Zone 13 Zonal Police Command, Ukpo, Anambra State, have returned three persons accused of conspiracy, unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and malicious damage to police custody, following the absence of Justice BMK Mohammed of Awka Federal High Court No. 2 sitting at Awka, the Anambra state capital.
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The prosecutors had taken the accused persons on handcuffs from the Zone 13 Zonal Police Headquarters, Ukpo, with a three-count charge to the Federal High Court, Awka, for formal arraignment, but when the court did not sit, and the Registrar promised to inform them when the court would sit, the police returned the accused persons to their custody at Ukpo.
According to the charge prepared by A. N. Obo Esq., Prosecution Counsel, Legal Department, Zone 13, Ukpo, in Charge No. FHC/AWK/C/73c/2026, Inspector-General of Police, GP versus Echezona Joseph Ezeonyejekwe, Sunday Azuoma and Chinedu Nwankwo, the above-mentioned accused persons, you need a charge 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 possession three Pump Action Rifles, prohibited firearms without a 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 Section 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 the statement of Sabest Uzoeto, a copy of the allocation papers, a copy of the grant of fencing permits, photographs of the malicious damages, a copy of the Certificate of Occupancy, C-of-O, copy of the Deed of Assignment. The defendants will rely on their written statement to the police
