Daredevil gunmen have killed the President of Ejemekwuru Customary Court in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State, Nnaemeka Ugboma.
The gunmen reportedly invaded the court President on Thursday, February 2, dragged the judge out while the court was in session, and shot him dead at a close range.
The Nation reports that the gunmen, who came on motorbikes, shot sporadically as the people fled the scene.
A witness said: ”The jurist was killed in his court while sitting. His killers came with motorcycles. They went into the court, dragged him out, shot him dead and drove off.
”His corpse was there as people in court fled. The whole thing is confusing because nobody knew any reason they killed him. He was from the Nnebukwu community in Oguta LGA here.”
The President of the Customary Court, Ihiagwa, Emperor Iwuala, confirmed the tragic incident on Friday and revealed what he and other judges had decided to do.
Iwuala wrote: ”My learned brother, His Worship Nnaemeka Ugboma, Chairman of the Customary Court Ejemekwuru Oguta LGA Imo State, was shot dead yesterday (Thursday) in court by yet-to-be-identified persons. We are indeed in a perilous time.
“We have vowed not to sit until the whole issue is resolved.”
When contacted, the chairman of the Owerri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ugochukwu Allinor, confirmed the incident and described it as an “unfortunate situation.
Imo Police spokesman Henry Okoye did not take his several calls.
He was yet to respond as of the time of filing this report.
