‘He Killed His Uncle,’ Court Sentences Man To Life Imprisonment

The High Court of Anambra State, Awka Judicial Division, presided over by Justice Okechukwu Nwabunike, has sentenced one Silas Uwa to life imprisonment for killing his uncle over a family land dispute in Ebenebe, Awka North LGA of the state.

Justice Nwabunike convicted Uwa on Monday, after finding him guilty of manslaughter in a charge sheet, Suit No. A/63C/2018.

The prosecution told the court that the defendant and the deceased were involved in a dispute over ownership of a parcel of land at Ebenebe, Awka North LGA.

It said the kindred had adjudged the land to belong to the deceased, a decision which the defendant and his siblings rejected.

On the day of the incident, the defendant reportedly accosted the deceased at his farm where he was working, engaged him in a fight and killed him by butchering him with a machete.

According to the prosecution, rather than seek legal redress, the defendant confronted his uncle on his farm, engaged him in a fight and hacked him to death with a machete.

The prosecution, led by Mr Ifeanyi Oguejiofor, Chief State Counsel, with Mrs Ijeoma Ugboaja, Principal State Counsel, called four witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer, to establish its case.

The defence raised the plea of self-defence and argued that the prosecution failed to prove murder beyond reasonable doubt, citing the absence of an eyewitness account.

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In his judgment, Justice Nwabunike held that “murder could be established through direct eyewitness evidence, a confessional statement or circumstantial evidence”.

He ruled that although there was no direct eyewitness account, the prosecution had established through credible circumstantial evidence that the defendant killed the deceased.

The judge also rejected the plea of self-defence but convicted Uwa of the lesser offence of manslaughter and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

In proof of its case, the prosecution, led by a Chief State Counsel, Ifeanyi Oguejiofor, called four witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer, while the defence raised self-defense and argued that the prosecution failed to prove murder beyond reasonable doubt, contending that there was no eyewitness account.

“Delivering his judgment, Justice Nwabunike said, “The court further held that notwithstanding the absence of direct eyewitness evidence, the prosecution proved through credible circumstantial evidence that the defendant killed the deceased.

“The plea of self-defense did not avail the defendant in the circumstances. Therefore, he was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to life imprisonment.”

In his remarks, the Secretary, Law Officers Association of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter, Nonso Emeka, said the case underscores the directive of the Anambra Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, that disputants should seek civil remedies through actions for declaration of title to land, rather than resort to self-help or the criminalisation of civil claims.

NOP NIGERIA