An Onitsha High Court, Anambra State, presided over by Justice S.N. Odili, on Tuesday, sentenced a man, Sunday Emenike, to 21 years’ imprisonment for the attempted murder of one Nnamdi Obumse.
Three other accused persons in the matter — Wilfred Mgbiligba, Chisom Amakaeze and Paul Anozie — were, however, discharged and acquitted of all charges by the court.
The four persons were arraigned on four counts of conspiracy and murder of one Akachukwu Ezebuilo, and another two counts of conspiracy and attempted murder of Obumse.
The accused had been standing trial since 2018.
The four had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges, saying they were not at the scene of the incident on the day.
Delivering judgment, Justice Odili said the trio of Mgbiligba, Amakaeze and Anozie, proved beyond reasonable doubt that they were not at the scene of the incident.
He, however, did not exonerate Emenike from involvement in the conspiracy and attempted murder of Obumse.
The judge said from Emenike’s defence statement, he did not convince the court of his innocence.
“It has been proved beyond reasonable doubt that he was involved and I hereby sentence him to four years’ imprisonment for conspiracy and 21 years for the attempted murder of Nnamdi Obumse. The sentences are to run concurrently,” the judge said.(Punch)
