Police says defendant paid N80, 000 for murder of two brothers in Aba

By Ijendu Iheaka

Aba (Abia )

The Nigeria Police on Thursday told an Osisioma High Court that it got reliable information that Godwin Chimezie paid Chukwuebuka Nnamani N80, 000 to kill two brothers, Bright and Victor Osuagwu.

Bright (9), and his brother Victor (7) were strangled to death in their father’s house at Abayi-Ogbuligba in Osisioma LGA, Abia on April 2, 2021 when their parents were away from the house.

Police Inspector Peter Nwankwo, the sixth Prosecution Witness in the murder case disclosed this in his testimony before Justice Teddy Eruba of Osisioma High Court III on Thursday.

Nwankwo said Chigozie Ikeokwu, the first defendant, upon his arrest, repeatedly stated that Chukwuebuka Nnamani (second) said that Godwin Chimezie (third) paid him N80, 000 to kill the brothers.

The Policeman said he verified the information when he visited a hard drug bunk called “Mmiri bunk” where he confirmed that the defendants patronized the bunk and shared drugs.

He also said he visited and interviewed traders at the patent medicine line where Chima Osuagwu, the father of the children and Godwin Chimezie, third defendant, do business.

Nwankwo said that at the market, traders he interviewed confirmed that Godwin Chimezie threatened the father of the two children two weeks before they were killed horrendously.

He further said he visited the mother of Chigozie Ikeokwu to inquire of his character and to inform her of how he is being held in custody for a crime.

He said that the defendant’s mother told him openly that she would not be coming to see him because he is a bad child.

While cross-examining the witness, the first defence lawyer, Chima Abali, argued that Chigozie Ikeokwu and Chukwuebuka Nnamani did not know each other before the case started but Nwankwo said it was not true.

Chidi Esom, second defense lawyer alleged that the investigation by the police officer did not take place before he concluded on the release of the two suspects given bail.

“No, that is not what I mean. It is after I had investigated that I concurred that a prima facie case had been made out. I still investigated”, Nwankwo responded.

He said he suggested the discharge of the two suspects earlier freed on bail because there was no link between them, the suspects and the criminal act.

The third defense lawyer, Ndubuisi Ojukwu who handled the brief of Chidi Nwachukwu asked if the investigator recovered any of the said money but he said no.

While leading Nwankwo in evidence, the Director, Legal Services, Vincent Chukwu, the State Counsel, asked him where the exhibits gathered in the case were.

He said that they were stored in the exhibit storage room of the State Criminal Investigation Department’s headquarters in Umuahia but were burnt by hoodlums who attacked the office on May 29, 2021.

The Prosecution closed its case with the appearance of Nwankwo and the judge urged the lawyers to take two dates for the defence to open and close its case.

Justice Eruba thereafter adjourned the matter to April 16 and 26 for the opening and closing of the case of the defences.