Imo State Police Command has vowed to track down and bring to justice assailants who killed the Chairman of Ejemekwuru Customary Court in the Oguta Local Government Area, Nnaemeka Ugboma, on Thursday, February 2, 2023.
Ugboma was killed by gunmen who came on motorcycles while presiding over a court session.
The incident brought an abrupt end to the court session for the day as lawyers, court staff and litigants fled.
It was gathered that the killing of Ugboma, who hailed from Nnebukwu community in the Oguta LGA, caused panic in Ejemekwuru community as natives and residents fled their homes.
A credible source who craved anonymity said: “He was killed in court during a session. His killers rode motorcycles. They came into the court, dragged him out, shot him dead and drove off. His corpse lay on the ground as people in court fled. The whole thing is confusing because nobody knew any reason while they killed him.”
The Chairman, Owerri branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ugochukwu Allinor, when contacted confirmed the killing, saying that the branch would communicate to the public regarding the incident.
Speaking in an interview with a journalist on Friday, the state police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, confirmed the report.
He said: “On Thursday, February 2, 2023, at about 1245hrs (12:45pm), five armed gunmen stormed Ejemekuru Customary Court in the Oguta LGA of Imo State, shot the court President, Nnemeka Ugboma ‘m’ from Oguta LGA and dumped his corpse at the back of the court building. The corpse has been recovered and deposited at the mortuary.
“Investigation is ongoing. Tactical teams have been deployed to the area to track down the assailants, apprehend them and bring them to face the full wrath of the Law. Further development will be communicated to members of the public.”
