Ozubulu massacre: Court gives final ruling in suspects’ trial

A High court sitting in Awka has discharged and acquitted two remaining suspects standing trial for alleged involvement in the killing of 13 worshipers on August 6, 2017 at St Philips Catholic Church, Ozubulu in Ekwusigo local government in Anambra.

Justice Fidelis Aniukwu ruled that the prosecution counsel was unable to prove beyond reasonable doubt the allegations levelled against the defendants, Chinedu Akpunonu and Onyebuchi Mbanefo.

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 judgement, the defence counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, described it as 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 judgement would be appealed.

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

The prosecution counsel, Mr Jay Jay Ezeuko, SAN, said he would determine the next step after receiving a copy of the judgement.

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