Emeka King Begins Murder Trial Defence Nov 14

Embattled Lagos clergyman, Mr. Emeka Ezeugo alias Dr. Reverend King, currently standing trial in an attempted murder and murder case before an Ikeja High Court, is to open his defence in the 42-day old matter; following an outright dismissal of a quash application he filed before the trial judge, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole. The date for his defence is fixed for Tuesday, November 14.

King, General Overseer (G.O.) of the Isolo-based Christian Praying Assembly (CPA), currently remanded in Ikoyi Prisons, was alleged to have attempted to murder seven people on July 22, at No. 6B, Canal View, Ajao Estate, Lagos by pouring petrol on them and setting them on fire; an offence punishable under Section 332 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2003.

The alleged burn victims include Miss Onuorah Chizoba formerly known as Hope King; Olisa Chiejina; Uche Chukwu Iwoba; Vivian Ezeocha; Kossisochukwu; and Nwere Jessica, who have testified as prosecution witnesses in the matter. A seventh burn victim, Ann Uzoh King, died on August 2, allegedly from severe loss of body fluid caused by second and third degree burns.

When above matter came up yesterday, Justice Oyewole in his decision on King’s application, faulted the accused’s ground that there are pending cases on the same charge before an Ebute-Metta Magistrate Court, and revealed that the prosecution, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, had served notices of discontinuance at said Magistrate Court, and that there are no such pending cases.

“Also an application to quash on the grounds of insufficiency of evidence disclosed in the proof of evidence is certainly too late after the court has taken all the evidence of the prosecution. The court has heard and seen prosecution witnesses and admitted various exhibits in evidence, including exhibits tendered by the defense. You cannot un-ring a bell. It is too late in the day to lock the stable door after the horse has escaped”, Oyewole ruled.

“In the present case, the charges in the Magistrate Court are not the same as that being tried here as parties are not the same and alleged victims of the counts of attempted murder are also not the same. A Magistrate Court has no jurisdiction to entertain a murder charge, as such no competent murder charge could possibly be pending before any Magistrate Court. In totality therefore, this application fails and it is accordingly dismissed. I accordingly call on the accused person to proceed with his defence in accordance with Sections 286 or 287 of the Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) of Lagos State”, the trial judge added.

So far in the matter, fourteen prosecution witnesses including the alleged burn victims have testified before the court on the clergy-man’s alleged role in the burn saga on the night of Saturday, July 22.

Also three medical practitioners, Drs. Soyemi, Okafor and Okeowo; both Raphael Uzuh and Ifeanyi Uzuh (late Ann’s father and brother respectively); and the case Investigating Police Officer (IPO) Sergeant Akpanomo of Panti SCID, have also testified in the trial. The defence, which is yet to call any witnesses in the matter, instead brought an application to quash the present charge of attempted murder and murder brought against King.

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