From Charles Onyekwere, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State High Court sitting in Ohaukwu Judicial Division has sentenced four persons to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of a 26-year-old businessman, Chinonso Elom.
Among those convicted is Uchenna Odono, a cousin to the chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area, amplifying the political shockwaves from the case.
The brutal killing occurred on February 6, 2023 in front of Elom’s business premises near the bustling Okwo Ngbo Main Market.
The assailants, reportedly cultists and political thugs, had stormed the area in a branded Sienna bus affiliated with a major political party. Eyewitnesses said the group, comprising Anthony Elom (aka Tidy), Chibueze Onwe, Chief Chukwuemeka Ugah, Uchenna Odono, and a fifth accomplice, ThankGod Onwe (who remains at large), confronted the deceased, demanding the whereabouts of his younger brother over a past misunderstanding.
When he could not provide answers, the gang attempted to force him into the vehicle. Upon his resistance, Anthony Elom pulled out a shotgun and fired a fatal shot to his head.
The shocking murder sparked widespread outrage and triggered mass protests by Ngbo youths who demanded justice. Following swift police investigations and credible eyewitness testimonies, four of the suspects were apprehended and charged with conspiracy and murder.
In a dramatic courtroom session on Thursday, May 14, Justice Esther Otah ruled that the prosecution presented irrefutable evidence, including forensic analysis linking the murder weapon to the crime.
She declared the defense arguments as “grossly insufficient,” emphasizing that the accused acted in concert and deserves equal culpability. Justice Otah pronounced the death sentence for all four convicts, stating that the heinous crime was not just an act of murder, but a calculated and cold-blooded conspiracy.
Reacting to the verdict, lead defense counsel, Barrister Chinedu Uwa, expressed dissatisfaction and vowed to appeal the ruling. In contrast, the prosecuting counsel, Barrister Oluchi Ibiam of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice, alongside Barristers Chinedu Ugadu and Chinedu Ituma from Ohaukwu, hailed the judgement as a landmark victory for justice and a deterrent to political thuggery and cult-related killings.
The judgment has sent shockwaves through Ngbo and surrounding communities, with youth and community leaders hailing it as a turning point.
President of Amalgamated Ngboejeogu Youths, Barrister Michael Odo, delivered a passionate address following the verdict, stating while the sentence offers some closure, it is a sad reflection of societal decay fueled by cultism and impunity.
He urged all political leaders and youths to reject cultism in all forms and help rebuild a safer and saner society.
The dramatic trial and sentence have not only sparked viral conversations across social media, but also reignited national discourse on cult violence, political thuggery and the urgent need for justice reform in Nigeria.
As the family of Chinonso finally finds some solace, many hope this judgement will mark a new chapter in the fight against politically motivated killings and cult-related violence in Ebonyi State and beyond.
