An Enugu Magistrate Court on Thursday remanded Igwe Herbert Ukuta, the traditional ruler of the Igga community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, along with a former community councillor and three others, in prison for alleged murder and membership in a terrorist group.
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The defendants, who had been detained at the state criminal investigation department for over a month, were arraigned by the Enugu State Police Command on a 10-count charge before the Enugu North Magistrate Court 1.
The charges, listed under Charge No. MEN/320c/2024, include conspiracy, being members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its security wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), and the murder of five individuals, including two police officers. The police cited violations under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and the Criminal Code.
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Key charges against them include:
– Conspiracy to commit felony by joining a terrorist group, punishable under Sections 26(1) and 25(3) of the Terrorism Act.
– Recruiting individuals into IPOB/ESN, a proscribed terrorist organization, punishable under Section 18 of the Terrorism Act.
– Participation in the activities of IPOB and ESN and failing to report these activities, punishable under Section 16(1)(a) and (b) of the Terrorism Act.
– Unlawful killing of Police Inspector Nwoga Cornellus, Police Constable Ikowa Anthony, and civilians Emegoni Aloysius, Adada Joshua, and Eze Fidelis, all punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code.
The defendants did not enter pleas, as the magistrate court lacks the jurisdiction to hear cases under the federal terrorism act. Consequently, all accused individuals were ordered to be remanded at the Enugu Maximum Correctional Centre.
