Copyright thenationonlineng
This matter is a litmus test for Cross River’s AG The video circulating in the social media, concerning the negligent prosecution of five murder suspects, namely, Pastor Uchenna Peter Chinweikpe, Valentine Aloysius (aka my father, my father), Elvis Ntui, Pastor Effiong and Barry, (the last three still at large), allegedly involved in the murder of one Princewill Igbunaju Ikenna, in Ikom, Cross River state, two or three years ago, deserves the urgent intervention of the Attorney-General (AG) of Cross River State, in the interest of justice. We demand for diligent prosecution of the suspects and punishment for state officials found negligent or complicit. According to Mr Ernest Onyeka, younger brother of the murdered Ikenna, the incident happened on September 4, 2023, when they noticed that his elder brother was missing. By the next day, Ikenna was identified by his father and Mr Onyeka, dead, with three bullet wounds, and his car stolen. He alleged that through the help of the deceased car tracker, they traced the car to a panel beater in Lagos, the morning after the incident. At the workshop, the panel beater was changing the colour of the car. He reportedly told the police at Lagos State that one Pastor Uchenna Peter Chinweikpe, gave him the car to work on, and when the pastor came, he lied that the car was a gift from a congregant in Lagos. Further enquiries from the pastor’s wife showed that the pastor was in Ikom on the day of the incident, and when the pastor was drilled, he allegedly confessed he drove the car all the way to Lagos, over the night, after the incident. The pastor confessed before the police that he went to Ikom on the invitation of one Pastor Kingsley to preach, and after the programme, he and the Pastor Kingsley and two other fellows accosted the deceased, and that he was there when Ikenna was shot and killed by Elvis and one other guy. After the alleged confessions, the matter was transferred to Zone Six of the Nigeria Police Command, in Cross River State. Mr Onyeka said the matter was subsequently charged to the Cross River State High Court, Ikom Division, before Justice Ashu Ewah. Read Also: Oyedele unveils 50 tax reliefs, benefits for Nigerians The circulating video caught the attention of the AG of Cross River State, and he ordered an investigation. The report of the investigation released by Anthony Okon Effiom Esq., solicitor-general of the state, confirmed that Justice Ewah granted the suspects bail on health grounds, on a date different from the day the matter was originally adjourned to, and when the prosecution was not in court. The judge subsequently went to participate in election petition tribunal, and ever since, the trial was abandoned, and the suspects are walking freely, and engaged in their so-called pastoral work. The brother of the deceased further alleged that after Pastor Uchenna was granted bail on health grounds, he was in his church preaching, and exhibiting no sign of ailment the same week. We consider the events surrounding the trial of the suspects in the case of murder of Ikenna, a travesty and mockery of the Cross River State criminal justice system and we call on the AG of the state to rise up to his duty. As the chief law officer of the state, what happened is an indictment on his office and the state judiciary. All those involved must be held accountable. The state chief judge should ensure that the matter is taken before another judge, since Justice Ewah has not shown diligence in handling the matter. We commend the AG for the interest shown so far, but wish to notify him that the case may define his time in office. So, he should ensure that justice is done to all parties in the murder case.
