Court Discharges And Acquits Alleged Killers Of Ozubulu Worshippers

A High court sitting in Awka has discharged and acquitted two remaining suspects standing trial for alleged involvement in the killing of worshipers in a church in Ozubulu, Anambra state.

In a ruling that lasted for over three hours, Justice Fidelis Aniukwu ruled that the prosecution counsel was unable to prove beyond reasonable doubt the allegations leveled against the defendants, Chinedu Akpunonu and Onyebuchi Mbanefo.

Naija News reports how Unknown gunmen had on August 6, 2017, invaded St Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local government area of the state and killed no fewer than thirteen persons.

The Judge had in December 2018 discharged two out of the four persons arraigned before a high court in November 2017 following the church attack.

Justice Aniukwu argued that the prosecution witnesses could not provide any evidence linking the defendants with the murder as alleged.

Reacting to the judgment, the defense counsel, Mr. Festus Kayemo SAN, described it as a landmark in view of the accelerated hearing granted by the presiding Judge.

Keyamo represented in court by another counsel, Mr Samuel Echeakputa, however, said he would not be surprised if the judgment would be appealed.

“It’s the prosecution’s right to appeal the judgment. But from what I witnessed in the court today, it will be very difficult for the appeal court to upturn the judgment,” he said.