Judges on the run as gunmen invade court in Anambra

Onitsha

Proceedings at the High and Magistrate
courts in Ekwulobia, Aguata Local
Government Area of Anambra State were
temporarily disrupted recently as judges and
magistrates abandoned their case files and
other belongings and ran for their dear lives
when some armed men invaded the court
premises shooting sporadically into the air.
The gun-wielding men were suspected to
have been hired by an accused, who was
standing trial on a 11-count charge ranging
from stealing, conspiracy to unlawful assault
and threat to kill, among others.
The accused, who was brought to the court by
the Umuchu Police Division was said to have
been a thorn in the flesh of the citizens of
Umuchu town.
The police had alleged that the man and
other people currently at large, threatened
one Arinze Chukwu and assaulted one
Ikechukwu Mmaduako at the same place,
and stole their property, valued N238, 500.
As the case progressed in Magistrate Court 2,
some armed men stormed the court premises
shooting sporadically. Unconfirmed sources
alleged that the men were at the court on a
failed bid to abduct three key prosecution
witnesses in the trial of the accused
described as head of a vigilance group in the
community.
Meanwhile, the matter has been fixed for
November 19 for hearing as the accused
pleaded not guilty to the charges read to him
in English and interpreted to him in Igbo
language by the court registrar.