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Emeka King: Court adjourns ruling on jurisdiction till Monday
LAGOS — Embattled General Overseer of Christian Praying Assembly, Emeka Ezeugo a.k.a Rev. King and his two fellow church members would on Monday know whether the fresh charges of murder preferred against them by the police would be entertained by a Lagos Chief Magistrate court sitting at Oyingbo, Lagos.
The court presided over by Magistrate Teslim Elias would also decide whether it would remand the accused persons in prison custody as requested by the police prosecutor, who yesterday arraigned them on a fresh two count charge of conspiracy and murder of one Ann Uzor, a member of the church.
The controversial Rev. King and two others had been granted bail by the same court when they were first arraigned on three count charge of conspiracy and attempted murder of some members of the church. The suspected victims of the kings assault which include Ann, Olora Chizoba, Uchechukwu Uwobo, Vivian Eze Ocho, Bunmi Olisa and Nwere Jessica. He is presently being detained with other members of the church at Ikoyi prisons, Lagos due to their failure to perfect their bail conditions.
At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, the accused persons including Rev. King and one Queen were docked on a charges of murder. When the two charges of conspiracy and murder were read to them, they all pleaded not guilty.
After taken their plea, King’s lawyer, Mr. Mike Okoye urged the court to throw out the charges against his client on the ground that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
According to Mr Okoye, bringing the matter before the court is like bringing the horse before the cart, while urging the court to uphold the bail earlier granted the accused.
Other accused persons counsel, including Mr. Festus Keyamo asked the court to discountenance the charges. Counsel to the third accused person, told the court that his client was wrongfully arraigned, arguing that she should have been the prosecution witness since all what she did was according to instructions from Rev. King.
Delivering his short ruling, Magistrate Elias held that the bail earlier granted the accused person on charges of attempted murder still subsist.
The magistrate adjourned rulling on whether or not the court has the powers to entertain the fresh charges of murder and whether it can order their detention in prison custody. The court adjourned ruling on murder charge till August 14, 2006.
Speaking to journalists, Rev King said his arraignment and charges levied against him were mere blackmail.
He said “my arraignment is a super blackmail and conspiracy of the highest order. Every accusation against me is false. I am innocent, after all Jesus was also forcefully accused and he came out of it triumphantly. I Know that the truth will definitely prevail one day.”
Immediately the court rose, there was confusion between those loyal to Rev. King and some ‘area boys’ who wanted to attack the accused persons. Those who came with placard as solidarity with the embattled Reverend were attacked while the ‘area boys’ threatened to lynch the accused person.
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