In a landmark ruling, the Abia High Court in Ukwa has delivered a verdict of death by hanging for Ugochukwu Amaugo and Udo Ogba Oka, two members of the Abia Vigilante Group (Bakassi). The conviction stems from an 11-year trial surrounding the deaths of Temple Nwakanma and Martins Azih, who were apprehended by the convicts near Osisioma Junction, on the outskirts of Aba.
Throughout the trial, Amaugo and Oka stood accused of failing to account for the whereabouts of the two youths, despite their initial claims of arresting them for possession of firearms, cartridges, and knives in 2013. Justice Chibuzo Ahuchaogu found the defendants guilty, citing insufficient evidence to support their version of events.
The defendants alleged that while transporting the youths to their headquarters in Umuahia, they encountered soldiers at Abia Tower, who purportedly took custody of Nwakanma and Azih. However, the Nigerian Army vehemently denied any involvement in the incident, leaving the fate of the victims shrouded in uncertainty.
This verdict marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice for the families of Nwakanma and Azih, as well as a stern warning to those entrusted with upholding law and order to act within the confines of the law.
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