An Abakaliki Magistrates’ Court, on Thursday, remanded five men facing trial over alleged robbery and murder of a youth at Ndienwuru Village, Ekoli-Edda, Ebonyi State.

The defendants are Amarachi Irem, 27, Oledi Philip-Nsi, 26, Ogbu Nkama, 22, Chibueze Nnachi, 36 and Okoro Stanley-Onuu, 39.

The five men are facing a four- count charge of conspiracy, murder, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms

One of the defendants, Philip-Nsi, was also charged with attempted murder of the Chairman, Ebonyi State Fertilizer and Chemical Company Limited, on June 1, Dr Eni Uduma-Chima, at Ekoli-Edda, Edda Local Government Area of the state.

The Chief Magistrate, Sandra Onyibe, who did not take the plea of the defendants because the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the murder charge, ordered the remand of the defendants in the correctional centre.

Ms Onyibe also denied the bail application made by counsel to the defendants, Sunday Ajah, and ordered that the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

She subsequently adjourned the matter until October 2 for report on the legal advice.

Earlier, the Police Prosecutor, Eze Ndubuaku, told the court that the five suspects committed the offences on July 9, at Ndienwuru Village, Ekoli-Edda.

Mr Ndubuaku said that the defendants conspired amongst themselves to commit murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.

He added, “They also did kill one Udu Nnachi-Orji, ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which caused his death and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code Cap 33 Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009. The defendants also robbed a truck valued at N39 million only (₦39,000,000.00), property of Eni Uduma Chima.’’

(NAN)