A Magistrate Court sitting in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, has resolved a criminal matter between Commissioner of Police Abia State command and community leaders – Chief Tobias Osukwu and three others in favour of the defendants.
The matter was brought before the court on an allegation that Osukwu and three other members of Amaoke Ugba including Chibuzor Offor, Obinna Aruoma and J.C Anyanwu damaged properties developed by some individuals at Uzoubi, a parcel of land in dispute between Amaokwe Ugba and Umuagom communities in Umuahia North Local Government Area.
The defendants were accused of malicious damage, stealing, conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms, conspiracy, terrorism and stealing.
While delivering judgement on the matter with charge No. U/468c/2023, the pressing magistrate, Adaugo Garbiel Ochiagha, ruled that the prosecuting counsel failed to prove the six charges levelled against the defendants beyond readable doubt.
She stated that the essence of criminal justice is not to punished the innocent, but it is intended to ensure that the law takes its course.
She therefore discharged and acquitted the defendants.
Reacting to the Judgement, the counsel for the defendant Mr Martins Okoroafor, hailed the magistrate for allowing justice to stand in the matter.
“The magistrate looked at everything after we had taken quite some time proving and defending the case and came to a resolution that the allegations were not proven beyond reasonable doubts.
“That means the case the prosecutor brought before the court had no merit before and the magistrate dismissed all the six counts and then discharged the accused persons”.
Also Osukwu, who is the President General of Amokwe expressed satisfaction over the judgement saying the court had vindicated him.
He said,”We were able to present to a judgment that was given since 1920 by the Provincial Court showing that that land belonged to our community. We also tendered another judgment of the Provincial Supreme Court of that time in 1927 showing that the land, Auzubi, belongs to us.
“Also recently the state High Court gave a judge in our favour concerning the same land. The fact remains that the Ministry of lands cannot collect our land and sell to others without our consent.
“God has vindicated us and proved to the whole world that we are not guilty of the accusations they brought against us”.
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