BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A 42-year-old man, Emmanuel Okonkwo, is currently facing a murder charge at a Magistrate’s court sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, for allegedly throwing down his elder brother, Christian, from a two-storey building.
Okonkwo, in a suit marked MAB/572c/2021, was accused of causing the death of his elder brother, Christian Okonkwo, on July 29, 2019, at their family residence, 13, Udi Street, Abakaliki by throwing him down from the second floor.
The charge reads that “Emmanuel Okechukwu Okonkwo, on the 29th of July, 2019, at Number 13, Udi Street, within the Abakaliki Magisterial district, with intent to kill, attacked your elder brother, Christian Okonkwo, with an iron rod and threw him from the second floor of the 2-storey building which caused his death and thereby, committed an offence punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 33, Volume 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”
One of their neighbours who spoke with The Point on the condition of anonymity, said that their father, late Okonkwo, from Anambra State, was among the first settlers in Abakaliki.
As a wealthy man, he was said to have acquired and left behind many landed properties and trucks for the family.
It was gathered that Emmanuel and Christian were the only members of the Okonkwo family resident in Nigeria. The Point learnt that the defendant was in the habit of selling family properties against Christian’s wish.
A source said that the last straw that broke the camel’s back was that he (Emmanuel) attempted to sell the family house at Number 13, Udi Street where the elder brother (Christian) lived with his family.
The decision was said to have been opposed by Christian, thereby leading to the fracas that resulted in his death.
The Point gathered that the defendant, after the incident, ran away. He was, however, apprehended by the police and prosecuted.
The defense counsel, Henry Utoh, applied for bail for the defendant ,but his bail application was reportedly denied.
The trial Magistrate, Blessing Ibeabuchi-Chukwu, ordered that the suspect should be remanded at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre, as the matter was beyond the jurisdiction of the Magistrate’s court.
The case was adjourned to September 6, 2021, for transfer to the state high court.
