Ezeonyejekwe, Other Vigilante Operatives Remanded In Prison Until June 11 Over Conspiracy, Unlawful Possession Of Firearms

By Chuks Eke—

The Administrative Judge of the Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State capital, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, has ordered the remand of one Echezona Joseph Ezeonyejekwe and two other vigilante operatives attached to Onitsha South Local Government Area Council of the state in Awka Correctional Centre until Thursday, June 11 this year, when their bail application is expected to be heard and determined.

Justice Anyadike, who handed down the order shortly after the three-count charge was read before the court and the accused pleaded not guilty to all charges, ordered both parties to file their bail application and counter affidavit on or before the next adjourned date to enable her to hear and determine whether to grant the accused persons bail.

Overruling Ezeani Esq., counsel for the accused persons, who made an oral application for their bail, she based her ruling on the ground that the defence failed to file the application earlier, even though the case had been slated for hearing on April 14, but the court did not sit.

The police prosecution counsel from Zone 13 Zonal Police Command, Ukpo, Anambra State, A. N. Obo Esq., had pleaded with the court to give a short adjournment to enable both parties to file all necessary documents relating to the bail of the accused persons.

The police prosecutors had taken the accused persons back to police custody at Zone 13 Zonal Police Headquarters, Ukpo, on April 14, the first hearing date, when they arrived at the court and discovered that the court did not sit.

In Charge No. FHC/AWK/C/73c/2026, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) versus Echezona Joseph Ezeonyejekwe, Sunday Azuoma and Chinedu Nwankwo, the accused persons had, between September 9, 2025 and April 14, 2026, at 93 Silas Works Road, Fegge, Onitsha, Anambra State, conspired together and with others still at large and unlawfully had in their possession three Pump Action Rifles, prohibited firearms without a licence.

The prosecution also alleged that the accused persons and others still at large had on the same dates and at the same venue conspired together and allegedly carried out malicious damage, adding that while acting in concert and armed with guns, machetes and other dangerous weapons, they wilfully and unlawfully destroyed three buildings valued at N700 million, the property of the complainant, Sabest Uzoeto.

The offences, according to the prosecution, were punishable under Section 27(1)(a)(i) of the Firearms Act. Cap. F28, Section 516 of the Criminal Code and Section 451(1)(b) of the Criminal Code Act. C38 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The prosecution listed Sabest Uzoeto and ASP Sylvanus Ezenta as prosecution witnesses to rely on during trial, while the documents to rely on are the statement of Sabest Uzoeto, copy of allocation papers, copy of grant of fencing permits, photographs of the malicious damage, copy of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), copy of Deed of Assignment, and the defendants will rely on their written statements to the police.