Murder: Protest rocks Enugu over alleged miscarriage of justice against Ifeanyi Ekoh

   BY SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

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There was protest in Enugu the Enugu State capital on Tuesday over the alleged miscarriage of justice against an Enugu indigene, Ifeanyi Ekoh who was sentenced to death for murder of one Ukamaka Immaculata Ogborji.

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Ekoh’s death sentence was upheld by the Court of Appeal, Enugu and it is being challenged at the Supreme Court by the convict as he insists that the Court judgement was based on sentiment rather on factual evaluation.

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A member of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), Enugu, Comrade Kindness Jonah led the protesters who marched with placards along Edinburgh Road, Ogui New Layout, Enugu.

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Some of the placards with inscriptions read: “Ifeanyi Ekoh victim of injustice”, “Chief Justice of Nigeria CJN release Ifeanyi Ekoh”, “Supreme Court release Ifeanyi Ekoh”.

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Speaking to journalists after the peaceful demonstration, Comrade Jonah said Ifeanyi Ekoh should be released by the Supreme Court because he is innocent of the charges preferred against him.

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“Court of Appeal based its judgement on sentiment rather on factual evaluation”, the human rights activist alleged.

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Comrade Jonah said, “Civil Liberties Organization—CLO, got the certified true copies of  Appeal Court Judgments separately on Ebenezer Amaga and the State delivered on 28 September, 2021;  Obinna Nwuruku  and the State delivered on 28 September, 2021 as well as Ifeanyi Ekoh and the State, delivered on 25 April, 2022.

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“From the three pieces of information, CLO crystallized the following willfully neglected facts by the Appeal Court in sentencing Ifeanyi Ekoh to death which clearly made the judgment a miscarriage of justice over which now CLO humbly appeals to Supreme Court to upturn the judgment of Appeal Court Enugu to set Ifeanyi Ekoh clearly free from the hangman’s noose.

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“The three accused are: Ebenezer Amaga (1st ); Obinna Nwuruku (2nd ) and Ifeanyi Ekoh (3rd ). Ebenezer Amaga  was accused by the father to the butchered and dismembered little girl –Ukamaka Immaculata Ogborji by name Mr. Stephen Ogborji. But who accused Ifeanyi Ekoh? This was neglected by the Appeal Court. Also, Mr. Stephen Ogborji had told the court repeatedly that he only knows Ebenezer Amaga and Obinna Nwuruku as the killers of her daughter – Ukamaka Immaculata Ogborji and not and never know Ifeanyi Ekoh because he never knew him in life and had not seen him even once—This was clearly said in the open Court and Appeal Court neglected it and sentenced Ifeanyi Ekoh to death.

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“CLO once again asks the Appeal Court: who accused Ifeanyi Ekoh? Why should judgment on Ifeanyi Ekoh take almost a year after those of the confessed killers of Ukamaka, when all three are facing the same case? Who accused Ifeanyi Ekoh, CLO asks Appeal Court Enugu again?

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“Also, Appeal Court failed to bring in Ifeanyi Igwe who really pointed at Ifeanyi Ekoh in Lagos as he was forced to rope in Ifeanyi Ekoh his business  colleaque into this case in other to release Obinna  Nwuruku and others since he, Ifeanyi Ekoh, is not from the same State with all other  accused or arrested people who already had confessed to the crime.

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“So, Ifeanyi Ekoh is a victim of clannish gangsterism mapped out for sacrifice as a Guinea Pig. The Appeal Court failed to explore this point.

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“Also, the issue of  phone numbers used in calling the victim’s father- Mr. Stephen Ogborji as tendered  by the Victim’s father on 22 August 2012 –18  are different phone numbers which were all verified by the Police CID  Abakaliki. It is of note that the phone number of Ifeanyi Ekoh  was not, and is not among.

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“Both phones numbers of Ebenezer Amaga and Obinna Nwuruku were among the listed numbers presented by Stephen Ogborji who also   tactfully identified them and  the ransom amount of two million demanded was adequately mentioned in the text messages.

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“Ebenezer Amaga was condemned because his phone number contained tracked messages and calls on the kidnap – and- kill of Ukamaka  Immaculata  Ogborji . The phone number of Obinna Nwuruku was also tracked and messages and calls on the killing of  Ukamaka were discovered .

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“Nonetheless, Appeal Court released Obinna  Nwuruku, tactfully avoiding the phone number discussions, but  ironically based the unjust judgment on the failure of police to do thorough investigation.

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“CLO then asks: since no telephone conversation was attributable to Ifeanyi Ekoh,  what was then used by the Appeal Court to condemn Ifeanyi Ekok?

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“Again, the statement by both  Ebenezer Amaga and Obinna Nwuruku  when Ifeanyi Ekoh was brought to them for the very  first time  that ‘’they (Ebenezer Amaga and Obinna Nwuruku) were not the  source of his (Ifeanyi Ekoh’s) problem, but Chinedu Ogah, who is now in National Assembly, as the man behind the mask in the roping in of Ifeanyi Ekoh as the sacrificial  lamb.

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“Ifeanyi Igwe had also clearly cried out at Oshodi Lagos  when Ifeanyi Ekoh was brought in SAARS vehicle to meet  him that  ‘’he was not responsible for the problem of Ifeanyi Ekoh but Chinedu Ogah who is now in National Assembly.

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“Then, CLO  asks: on which  premise was the sentencing of Ifeanyi Ekoh based when the three Principal Characters: Ebenezer Amaga, Obinna Nwuruku and Ifeanyi Igwe had clearly told Ifeanyi Ekoh that it was Chinedu Ogah that directed them to rope him (Ifeanyi Ekoh)?

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“Why did not the Appeal Court summon: Chinedu Ogah and Ifeanyi Igwe to appear before it  for pertinent involvement and  subsequent cross-examination before rendering judgment in such a high profile case of death sentence?

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“CLO then asks: did Chinedu Ogah buy over Appeal court in this judgment against Ifeanyi Ekoh ?

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“Also, the Appeal Court claimed in its judgment that  freed Obinna Nwuruku that ‘police did not carry out proper investigation, but went ahead to condemn Ifeanyi Ekoh based on the same non investigation used to free Obinna Nwuruku.

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“CLO then asks:  Where is  Justice in the Judgment  by Appeal  Court against Ifeanyi Ekoh? Also, Ifeanyi Ekoh left Ebonyi State via Young Shall   Grow Motors on 16th August, 2012, whereas Ukamaka  Immaculata Ogborji  was  killed on 19th August, 2012 by Obinna Nwuruku  and  Ebenezer Amaga who clearly confessed to the crime of killing Ukamaka. But the police did not care to investigate the  receipt from Young Shall Grow  Motors which Ifeanyi Ekoh  clearly pointed out with his name clearly written on the manifest of  Young Shall  Grow  Motors. Also, Ifeanyi Ekoh told the police that he traveled the said day with one member of the staff of Young Shall Grow  Motors by name Ngozi. The police failed to investigate this, and Appeal court  went ahead to condemn Ifeanyi Ekoh without investigation by the police, but went  ahead to release Obinna Nwuruku the real killer of Ukamaka basing it on lack of investigation by the police’.

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“CLO  asks: how can Appeal Court be involved with this messy  and kangaroo judgment?

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“It is of note that Ifeanyi Ekoh had  ddirected one Nnabuike Enebe to WAY–BILL his  bag from  Lagos for collection by the police at Young  Shall  Grow Office at Abakaliki for police to clearly ascertain that Ifeanyi Ekoh really left Ebonyi State on 16th  August, 2012 through Young Shall Grow Motors but the police blatantly refused. BUT Ifeanyi Ekoh brought this point to the notice of the court, but the same Appeal Court flatly refused this  all-important fact to this matter on the  statement  that ‘Any other evidence after investigation had been concluded availed him nothing’.

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“BUT the same Appeal Court had said in the feeing of Obinna  Nwuruku ‘that the police has a  duty to investigate a confession made in the course of investigation to ascertain its veracity and not to file it away—page  15‘’.

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“But in the case of Ifeanyi Ekoh, the same Appeal Court said, ‘That the appeal (by Ifeanyi Ekoh) be dismissed as it is devoid of merit. Appealant’s (Ifeanyi Ekoh) alibi was vague  and bereft of particulars, so the police had no duty to embark on wide goose chase by accepting to investigate the same despite the fact that Ifeanyi Ekoh had sent  for the receipt to be brought back to  the same police who really  derelicted  on her duty of due investigation.

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“How can Appeal Court probate and reprobate at the same time in the same case?

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“How can Appeal Court talk from both sides of the chick at the same time in the same case?

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“CLO hereby calls on the  Supreme Court to please  re-visit this case judiciously to  release Ifeanyi Ekoh, who really is a innocent victim of clannish gangsterism.