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Emeka King Re-Arraigned for Murder
Embattled Lagos clergyman, Emeka Ezeuko alias Dr. Rev. King, was yesterday re-arraigned before another Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos, in a fresh two-count charge of conspiracy and murder, following the death of one of his alleged seven burn victims, Ann Uzoh, a member of his church, Christian Praying Assembly (CPA).
However, there was a twist in the matter when the presiding Magistrate, Mrs. Adesola Ikpati, struck out the new charge against the accused persons (King and two others)on the grounds of lack of jurisdiction to hear a murder case (being a capital offence), and also improper arraignment by the police prosecution team.
Late Ann Uzoh, who died from severe burns at a Lagos Hospital on Wednesday, was alleged to have been set on fire with a jerry-can of petrol by King and two other accused persons, Donatus Chaizor and Kelechi Chikere, on July 22 at Ajao Estate, Lagos. Other six teenagers who were allegedly set on fire at the same time with late Ann include Olisa Chiejina, Onuorah Chizoba, Uche Chukwu Iwoba, Vivian Ezeocha, Bunmi Olisa, and Nwere Jessica.
When the matter came up yesterday before Ikpati, the new charge was read to the three accused persons by Mr. Ochogwu Ogbeh (same police prosecutor in the first case at Ebute-Metta court). However, King’s counsel, Chief Mike Okoye raised objections to the arraignment process on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear a murder case; and that the accused had been granted bail by a similar court the day before.
Ogbeh, the prosecuting counsel, had urged the court to remand King and the co-accused persons in custody, since according to him, one of the seven burn victims, Ann Uzoh, had died of injuries allegedly caused by King and other accused, thus giving the matter a new dimension.
However, Ikpati, acceding to Okoye’s submission, claimed yesterday’s charge was different from that of Ebute-Metta and that prosecution should have withdrawn the first case before filing a fresh one yesterday.
She also faulted the prosecution’s procedure, and added that her court lacked jurisdiction to hear a murder case. She thereafter struck out the case.
King, who sported a two-piece suit, was driven away to Panti by the police team that brought him. He had earlier been given bail in a sum of N2m on Wednesday by Magistrate Teslim A.Elias of the Ebute-Metta court, with two sureties who must have landed property in Lagos. He is expected to perfect his bail before the next adjourned date on Thursday,August 11. Accused person, according to police sources, was said to have set the seven teenagers on fire on July 22, after he accused them of committing fornication.
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