Four suspected terrorists who allegedly kidnapped and killed the traditional ruler of Amanze Obowo Autonomous Community of Imo State, Eze Basil Njoku, have been arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The four defendants, Jude Iheme, Chika Madukwe, Nwokorie Ejike and Victor Obumneke, are standing trial before Justice Binta Nyako, on five counts of amended charges.
When the charges were read before Justice Binta Nyako, they pleaded not guilty.
Lead counsel to the defendants, Solomon Akume, had sought to move the bail application for his clients, however, it was opposed by the prosecution counsel, on the ground that he needed to react to some issues.
Justice Nyako has, however, fixed June 20 for the hearing of the applications, and the commencement of trial.
The judge also ordered that the defendants be remanded at Kuje Prison, pending the hearing and determination of their bail applications.
In the charge, the defendants, along with others said to be at large, were alleged to have conspired to commit felony acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 26 of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act 2022.
They were also said to have armed themselves with guns and offensive weapons, attacked, kidnapped, and killed the traditional ruler on December 17, 2022, while coming from the Federal Medical Centre in Umuahia, after collecting a ransom of N4 million in cash from his family, among others.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
