Rivers judge withdraws from murder case, transfers suit to CJN

A Rivers State High Court Judge, Justice Chiwendu Nwogu, has
declined to preside over a criminal matter before him following a
petition filed against his court by the wife of a murdered victim,
Prince Egege.

Egege was killed on November 10, 2016, in the Etche Local
Government Area of Rivers State over a land matter.

The wife of the slain man, Usila, alleged in her petition that
the court would be biased in dispensing justice as the presiding
judge hails from same local government area as the suspected
killers.

Justice Nwogu transferred the matter to the Chief Justice of
Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen, adding that since there was a petition
against his court, it was proper for him to withdraw from hearing
the matter.

The prosecution counsel, K. Olawale, who was absent in court on
Wednesday, had transmitted a letter to the court seeking an
adjournment, but the counsel for the first, second and third
defendants objected to the prayer.

The counsel for the first defendant, J. B. Azunyo, urged the
court to strike out the matter, adding that the prosecutor was not
serious with the prosecution of the matter following earlier
adjournments demanded by him.

Similarly, counsels for the second and third defendants, B. N.
Amaze and N. P. Nweke, urged the court to strike out the suit,
stating that the intermittent requests for adjournments by the
prosecution counsel were in bad taste.

It was alleged that the deceased was murdered after he bought a
piece of land from the 2nd defendant, Clement Anaele, and his son,
Sonny Anaele, and noticed that the said piece of land was being
encroached upon.

When approached over the development, Clement and Sonny were
said to have promised to give the deceased another parcel of
land.

But on the day of handing over the new plot of land to the
victim, Prince was said to have been attacked and killed in the
bush.