Lawyer, 3 others arraigned for arson
An Onitsha based legal practitioner, Mr. Ifeanyi Onwuanyi, has been arraigned with three of his kinsmen, Mr. Abanobi Onwuanyi, Ndubueze Onwuanyi and Chukwudu Ebodi Onwuanyi at an Anambra State High Court sitting at Otuocha.
They were arraigned on a two -count charge of arson (burning down of their Umueri village hall, Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area) and malicious damage of properties by the Anambra State Government.
The prosecuting counsel, senior state counsel in the state Ministry of Justice, Mrs. S.A.M Oforkansi, in the charges said the accused – Abanobi Onwuanyi, Ndubueze Onwuanyi, Ifeanyi Owuanyi Chukwudi and Ebodi Onwuanyi on March 14, 2016 at Nkwelle Ezunaka within Otuocha Judicial division unlawfully and willfully set fire on Umueri Village hall building, the property of Umueri family valued at N25,000,000 (twenty five million), thereby committed arson contrary to section 416 (A) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Vol 11 revised laws of Anambra State of Nigeria.
The charge reads: “That you, Abanobi Onwuanyi, Ndubueze Onwuanyi, Ifeanyi Onwuanyi and Chukwudi Ebedi Onwuanyi on the 14th day of March at Nkwelle Ezunaka within Otuocha Judicial division intentionally and willfully damaged one Honda Car property of Ikechukwu Onwnayi, one pathfinder jeep property of Boniface Onwuanyi and Honda Pilot Jeep, property of Ifeanyi Eziakor, Alumaco doors and Windows of a building, property of George Eneanya, thereby committed malicious damages contrary to section 415 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 36 Laws of the Anambra State of Nigeria 1991.
The Presiding Judge, Justice B. O. C Amaechina, while granting all the accused persons bail in the sum of N1 million with two sureties who will be a property owner in the Otuocha Judicial division and who also will be somebody with reasonable means of livelihood, said that having observed that the charges under which all the accused were charged are bailable offences and also taken into consideration an already bail granted the accused by a magistrate court where they were initially arraigned which they are enjoying, he saw no reason in refusing them bail.
He adjourned the matter to 5th, 25th April and 2nd, 3rd May for proper trial of the accused as well as an accelerated hearing of the case.
