The High Court of Anambra State, Awka Judicial Division, has sentenced a man identified as Silas Uwa to life imprisonment for killing his uncle, following a dispute over family land in Ebenebe, Awka North Local Government Area of the state.

Justice Okechukwu Nwabunike handed down the sentence on Monday after finding Uwa guilty of manslaughter in Suit No. A/63C/2018.

The prosecution told the court that Uwa and the deceased were involved in a dispute over ownership of a parcel of land in Ebenebe.

According to the prosecution, the kindred had adjudged the disputed land to belong to the deceased, a decision which Uwa and his siblings reportedly rejected.

Rather than seek legal redress, the prosecution said Uwa confronted his uncle while he was working on his farm, leading to a physical confrontation.

The defendant was subsequently accused of killing the deceased with a machete during the altercation.

The prosecution, led by the Chief State Counsel, Ifeanyi Oguejiofor, with Principal State Counsel, Ijeoma Ugboaja, called four witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer, to establish its case.

In his defence, Uwa pleaded self-defence and argued that the prosecution had failed to prove the charge of murder beyond reasonable doubt, particularly because there was no eyewitness to the killing.

However, delivering his judgment, Justice Nwabunike held that a murder case could be established through direct eyewitness testimony, a confessional statement or credible circumstantial evidence.

The judge noted that although there was no direct eyewitness account of the incident, the prosecution had presented sufficient circumstantial evidence linking Uwa to the death of his uncle.

Justice Nwabunike also rejected the defendant’s plea of self-defence.

However, rather than convicting him of murder, the court found Uwa guilty of the lesser offence of manslaughter and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Reacting to the judgment, the Secretary of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter, Nonso Emeka, said the case highlighted the need for people involved in land disputes to pursue legal remedies rather than resort to self-help.

Emeka said the position was consistent with the directive of the Anambra State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, that disputes over land ownership should be addressed through civil proceedings, including actions seeking a declaration of title.

He stressed that parties involved in land disputes should avoid taking the law into their own hands or turning civil disputes into criminal matters.

The case therefore underscores the importance of resolving land ownership disputes through established legal channels rather than confrontation or violence.

The death toll from the boat accident on the Buruku River in Buruku Local Government Area of Benue State has risen to four, with nine people still missing.

One of the victims was identified as Rev. Fr.

Moses Tsuagh, a Catholic priest who was among the passengers travelling on the ill-fated boat.

The latest development was disclosed on Sunday by the Information Officer of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, Tema Ager, during a telephone interview and at the scene of the incident.

Ager said four bodies had so far been recovered, while search and rescue operations were continuing for the nine missing passengers.

According to him, 38 motorcycles were also still submerged in the river following the accident.
He explained that 32 of the motorcycles belonged to Okada riders who were on board the boat, while six others were from separate boats that later sank while crossing the river.

The accident occurred on Saturday as the victims were reportedly returning from a burial ceremony in the area.

The passengers were said to be from neighbouring Gboko Local Government Area.

Providing details of the number of people aboard the boat, Ager said more than 200 passengers were believed to have been on the vessel.

He said 32 commercial motorcyclists were initially identified as being on board with their motorcycles, with each rider reportedly carrying three additional passengers.

This put the number of people associated with the motorcycles at about 138, while other mourners and people waiting at the waterside were also said to have joined the boat.

Ager said the number of passengers could therefore have exceeded 200, based on information provided by one of the surviving Okada riders.

Speaking at the scene on Sunday, the SEMA official said the recovery operation was ongoing and that authorities were working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.

Meanwhile, the Benue State Government has suspended the Buruku crossing-point branch of the Nigeria Union of Maritime following the accident.

The Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dennis Iyaghigba, announced the suspension during an on-the-spot assessment of the accident scene.

Iyaghigba also ordered the immediate suspension of the line operator involved in the crossing.

The commissioner further directed that the boat skipper be arrested and detained pending investigation into the circumstances that led to the accident.

The latest development brings the number of confirmed deaths to four, while nine people remain unaccounted for as rescue teams continue efforts to locate those missing.

Authorities are expected to continue investigations into the cause of the accident, including compliance with safety requirements and the number of passengers and motorcycles allowed on the boat.

Further updates are expected as search and rescue operations continue on the Buruku River.

Akwa Ibom PUNCH Correspondent Patrick Odey Buried Amid Tributes
Tears, tributes and expressions of grief filled Mbube community in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State on Saturday as the remains of The PUNCH Akwa Ibom State Correspondent, Patrick Odey, were laid to rest.
Odey, aged 62, died recently and was survived by his wife, six children and grandchildren.
At the funeral service, the management of PUNCH Nigeria Limited paid tribute to the deceased journalist, describing him as a valued member of the organisation whose dedication to journalism and contributions to the newspaper would remain memorable.
The condolence message from the Board and Management of PUNCH Nigeria Limited was delivered by the Cross River State Correspondent of the newspaper, Emem Julius.
“On behalf of the Board, Management and entire staff of PUNCH Nigeria Limited, we extend our heartfelt condolences to this family on the passing of your beloved husband and father, Mr Patrick Odey, who served as our Akwa Ibom State Correspondent,” the message stated.
The management prayed for strength and comfort for Odey’s family, colleagues and associates as they mourned his passing.
Also mourning the journalist, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, described his death as a loss to his family and the state.
The governor’s condolence message, read by his Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, Essien Ndueso, noted that Odey played a role in documenting the story and development of Akwa Ibom through his journalism.
“His contributions to journalism and our state will be remembered and will be greatly missed.
“On behalf of the Government and good people of Akwa Ibom State, I commiserate with his family, the management and staff of The Punch newspaper, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council, and the entire media community, and pray that God Almighty grants everyone affected by this painful loss strength and fortitude to bear it,” Eno said.
The Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State, Bassey Anthony, also described Odey as a peaceful and humble colleague who was committed to promoting excellence in journalism.
Anthony led other members of the chapel to the funeral and noted that Odey’s burial marked the second time in two years that the chapel had lost a member.
He recalled that the chapel had also buried Vanguard correspondent, Chioma Okonna, last year.
Anthony prayed for comfort for the bereaved family and protection for journalists in the course of their professional duties.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Uyo branch, was also represented at the funeral by its Chairman, Prof Opeyemi Olajide, and the ASUU National Financial Secretary, Prof Happiness Uduk.
The union leaders described Odey as a godly man whose life, they said, was worthy of celebration.
In his exhortation, Rev. Offiong Eyo of Assemblies of God, Afaha Oku, urged Christians to live lives worthy of their eternal reward.
Eyo described death as an important moment in the Christian faith, marking the end of earthly life and the point at which believers receive their reward from their Creator.
He said Odey had devoted himself to serving God and prayed that God would grant his wife, children and other family members the strength to cope with his death.
The funeral brought together family members, colleagues, journalists, academics, friends and associates who gathered to honour Odey’s memory and pay their final respects to the veteran correspondent.
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Journalists, family members and associates gathered in Mbube, Cross River State, on Saturday to bid farewell to The PUNCH Akwa Ibom Correspondent, Patrick Odey, who died at 62. Colleagues and public officials paid tribute to his contributions to journalism and Akwa Ibom State.