Disbarred Lawyer Ugwuonye Denied Bail in Aiyedogbon’s Murder Case

An Abuja High Court sitting in Federal Capital Territory (FCT)
has denied disbarred Lagos Lawyer, Emeka Ugwuonye bail in the case
of alleged involvement in the murder of late Abuja business woman,
Charity Aiyedogbon.

The presiding judge, Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi refused to
grant Ugwuonye’s application for bail filed, ordering that he
should remain in custody under the completion of his trial.

With the court order, Ugwuonye is to remain in Kuje prisons till
the charges against him are determined by the court.

Opposing his bail application earlier, the Head of Legal
Department at the FCT Police Command, James Idachaba described
Ugwuonye as “an unrepentant offender and a contemnor, capable of
jumping bail and interfering with the trial”, if granted bail.

Idachaba tendered certified true copies of Facebook posts made
by Ugwuonye, describing them as prejudicial, arguing that “If he
could do this while in custody, he will do more if released on
bail.”

Ugwuonye was charged before a High Court in Abuja, alongside
four others over their alleged involvement in Aiyedogbon’s dastard
killing.

The charge, with number CR/20/2018, between the Commissioner of
Police, FCT Command (complainant) and Ephraim Chukwemeka Ugwuonye
and four others (defendant) centers on Criminal Conspiracy to
commit murder, armed robbery and culpable homicide.

Other accused persons charged along side Ugwuonye are: Ezeugwu
Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ikechukwu James Ezeugwu.

The Charge Sheet reads in part: “That you Ezeugwu Paul
Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ephraim Chukwuemeka Ugwuonye all
‘M’, on or about 9/05/2016 in Kagini, Abuja, within the
jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit illegal act to
wit: Criminal Conspiracy when you agreed with amongst yourself and
robbed one Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon (now late) of her
property and killed her. You therefore committed an offence
contrary to and punishable under section 6 (b) of Robbery and Fire
Arms (special provisions) Act Cap. RII LFN 2004.”

“That you Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ephraim
Emeka Ugwuonye all ‘M’ on or about 9/05/2016 in Kagini, Abuja
within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit illegal
act to wit: Armed Robbery when you armed yourselves with cutlasses
and other offensive weapons, attacked and robbed Mrs. Charity
Chidiebere Aiyedogbon ‘F’ (now late) of her Accura ZDX Jeep with
registration number RSH 225 AH Abuja gray colour, one Samsung
Galaxy phone, one Itel 1408 phone, one Iphone and Ipad and other
valuables….”

“That you Ezeugwu Paul Chukwujekwu, Adogah Emmanuel and Ephraim
Emeka Ugwuonye all ‘M’ on or about 9/05/2016 in Kagini, Abuja
within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did commit illegal
act to wit: Culpable Homicide, when you intentionally attacked one
Mrs. Charity Chidiebere Aiyedogbon ‘F’ (now late) with cutlasses
and other offensive weapon and killed her, when you both knew that
death is the probable consequence of your action. You thereby
committed offence contrary to and punishable under section 221 of
the penal code law.”