Okija again: Six docked at Ihiala over communal land dispute

From ECHE NWAOBASI – NNEWI

Six people, Mr. Daniel Okafor Aged 54 years, Augustine Okoli, 58years, Jude Okafor, 31 years, Ossy Okafor, 54years, Felix Anaeto 43years, Olisamaka Azubugwu 32 years have been arraigned at an Ihiala Chief Magistrate Court presided over by Chief Magistrate A. O. Nwankwo for illegally dragging their kinsmen to the dreaded Okija Shrine aka “Aka Ogwugwuakpu Shrine of Ubahu Ezike Okija” to resolve a dispute relating to their communal land.

The three count charge which was read to the accused in the open court its states:

1. That you Mr. Daniel Okafor, Augustine Okoli, Jude Okafor, Ossy Okafor, all indigenes of Oseakwa Village Ihiala, Felix Anaeto of Umuatuegwu Ihuobo Village Okija, Olisamaka Azubugwu of Ubahu Ezike Village Okija and others at large on the 1st day of July 2015 at Oseakwa Village Ihiala in Ihiala Magisterial district did conspire among yourselves to commit misdemeanor to wit, invocation of Juju/Forceful entry and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 496(a) of the criminal code cap 36 vol II revised laws of Anambra State of Nigeria as amended.
2. That you Daniel Okafor, Augustine Okoli, Jude Okafor, Ossy Okafor, Felix Anaeto, Arinze Okolie, all of the said address and others now at large on the same date and place in the afore said Magisterial district did direct or control the invocation of Ogwugwu Akpu Juju in a parcel of land known as Nnembuko Ezeanulu and Ikeomumu situated at Ose Akwa Village Ihiala and thereby committed an offence under section 192 of the criminal code cap 36 vol III revised laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991 as amended.
3. That you Daniel Okafor, Augustine Okoli, Jude Okafor, Ossy Okafor, all of the same address and others at large on the same date and place in the aforesaid magisterial district did in a manner likely to cause a breach of the peace to forcefully enter on a parcel of land known as Nnembuko Ezenulu and Ikeomumu situated at Oseakwa which is in actual and peaceable possession of Umuezeanulu family in Ose akwa Village Ihiala and thereby committed an offence punishable Ihiala under section 115 of the criminal code cap 36 vol II revised laws of Anambra State of Nigeria as amended.

After reading the charges to the accused persons they pleaded not guilty. Their Lawyer Barrister Ikenna Udoji who led a team of other lawyers asked the court to grant all the accused bail on liberal grounds.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate A.O. Nwankwo granted the accused bail on strict condition with the sum of N100, 000.00 each with two sureties who will deposit their international travel passports in the court and adjourned the case to October 13th for hearing.