A High Court siting at Oba, Idemili South of Anambra, has convicted a commercial tricycle operator, Makuachukwu Ezike, and sentenced him to death by hanging for the murder of a passenger during a “one chance” robbery operation.
Justice .J. Oyeka delivered the judgment, finding Ezike guilty of the murder of Jude Onwuegbuchunam, an indigene of Umuoji in Anambra.
Ezike was arraigned in Charge No. HID/25C/2020, the State v. Makuachukwu Ezike.
The prosecution, led by Mrs L.N. Umeozulu, told the court that on Nov. 17, 2019, Ezike and two accomplices, who are still at large, operated a “one chance” robbery syndicate along the Oba-Obosi-Nkpor-Umuoji Road.
The gang, disguised as commercial transport operators, picked up Onwuegbuchunam as a passenger and attempted to rob him of his mobile phone and other valuables while in transit.
The prosecution said that when the victim resisted and raised an alarm, the assailants pushed him out of the moving tricycle at high speed near Abidi Hall, Umuoji, where local vigilante operatives were stationed.
According to the prosecution, the vigilantes immediately pursued the suspects, forcing Ezike to abandon the tricycle and flee the scene.
Onwuegbuchunam sustained severe injuries from the fall and died two days later.
The court heard that Ezike returned to the area the following day to recover the abandoned tricycle but was apprehended by vigilante operatives and handed over to the police.
During investigation, he reportedly confessed to the crime.
Five Witnesses Testified
The prosecution called five witnesses, including the medical doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination and testified that the victim’s death resulted from injuries sustained when he was pushed from the moving tricycle.
Although the defence argued that there was no eyewitness to the incident, Justice Oyeka held that the law permits conviction based on direct evidence, confessional statements or circumstantial evidence.
The judge ruled that the circumstantial evidence against the defendant was compelling, citing the abandoned tricycle and his flight from the scene as strong indicators of guilt.
Justice Oyeka also relied on the defendant’s voluntary confession and the medical evidence linking the victim’s death to the injuries he sustained after being pushed from the moving tricycle.
The court consequently found Ezike guilty of murder and sentenced him to death by hanging.
