Court Remands Brothers In Correctional Centre For Killing Their Siblings

Two brothers identified as Matthew Nwokora and Amos Nwokora have been remanded in the correctional centre by an Ebonyi State Magistrates Court sitting in Abakaliki for allegedly killing their sibling, Chukwuebuka Nwokora, who was believed to be mentally ill.

A report revealed that the deceased on several occasions had threatened that he would kill Matthew before he was allegedly murdered by his brothers.

It was gathered that Chukwuebuka met his brother on a bush path on January 14, 2020, and inflicted machete cuts on his head.

Southern City News noted that the suspects chained the deceased to a tree, only for them to arrive at the spot the next day to give him food, he was found dead.

The incident took place at the Noyo-Alike Ikwo community in the Ikwo Local Government Area of the state on January 15, 2020.

They were arraigned before the court on two counts of murder and felony.

The police prosecutor, Mathias Eze, told the court that the offences were punishable under sections 324 and 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

The charges read, “That you, Matthew Nwokora, Amos Nwokora and others now at large on the January 15, 2020, at Noyo-Alike Ikwo, under the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; murder, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria.”

“That you, Matthew Nwokora, Amos Nwokora and others now at large, on the same date, place and in the aforesaid magisterial district, did kill one Chukwuebuka Nwokora by chaining him to a coconut tree, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State.”

The counsel to the brothers had pleaded with the court to grant his clients bail, but his application was rejected by the court.

Chief Magistrate Nnenna Onuoha said the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

She directed that the accused persons be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abakaliki, while their case file should be transferred to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in the state for necessary advice.

The matter was adjourned till Friday, February 6, 2020.