Court Acquits 3 Enugu Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital Staff Charged With Murder

Posted by Ignatius Okpara Breaking News, Enugu, Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Friday, July 16th, 2021

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – After spending over two years in the correctional service facility, the Chief Judge of Enugu State, Justice Ngozi Emehelu, on Thursday discharged and acquitted three Senior Staff of Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, accused of killing the hospital’s Deputy Director and Head of Nursing Services, Late Dr. Maria Amadi.

African Examiner reports that late Dr. Amadi, a mother of two was assassinated by unknown gunmen on March 21, 2019 in front of her house at No. 38, Enugu Ezike Street, Federal Housing Estate, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu.

Before she gave up the ghost at the hospital in Enugu, the deceased was reported to have mentioned two staff of the hospital, which includes, Buzo-Maduka Ruth (F) (45) and Afam Ndu (‘M)’ (36) as those allegedly behind her attack.

Shortly, after the incident the police arrested three suspects Buzo-Maduka, Ndu and one Mrs Stella Achara ‘f’ (53) for being culpable in the murder.

The three accused persons were later arraigned and remanded at the Enugu Maximum Correctional Centre, by Chief Magistrate Dennis Ecko, of Enugu North Magisterial on April 16, 2019 on two count charge of murder and conspiracy.

Thereafter, the matter was transferred to the state High Court, where the Chief Judge, Justice Emehelu took over the trial.

But delivering judgement on the matter Thursday, Justice Emehelu declared that the prosecution failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt in the circumstances of the case.

She further pointed out that evidence of the PW1, who is the husband of the deceased, was conflicting, adding that there were discrepancies in three of the statements with the police.

The Judge noted that statements of the PW1 and other prosecution witnesses were at variance and therefore, the prosecution failed to prove the ingredients that the death of the deceased was caused by the defendants.

According to the Judge, “there is no direct eyewitness account that saw what caused the death of the deceased.

“The discrepancies in the evidence of pw1 were conflicting from the evidence of the prosecution witnesses therefore there is no clear evidence.

“There is no clear evidence to prove that the defendants were at the scene of the murder.

“In the final analysis therefore, I held that the prosecution has failed to prove his case beyond reasonable doubt, and the accused are hereby discharged and acquitted. That is the order of the court.

Reacting to the judgement in an interview with newsmen, Jerry Okolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Counsel to the 1st defendant, commended the judge for the verdict, describing the judgement as “God sent and very brilliant.”

In his reaction, the deceased husband, Sir Marcel Amadi said that God has not finished with the matter, saying, “human court may have finished with the matter but God hasn’t finished.

He, however, blamed the prosecution on the police who allowed the police IPO from Force Headquarters who investigated the case to rather than give evidence for the prosecution turned to give evidence for defence.

“Police that investigated the murder of my wife supposed to give evidence for prosecution but instead gave evidence even against police investigation report.”

Speaking with newsmen, Lawyer to the 2nd defendant, Barrister Joseph Ogbuka, said “Today, after more than two years of long walk in search of freedom has ended, and the people who were called accused, the defendants are today free, they have been declared free, they have been discharged and acquitted.

“The judgement has declared that the defendants are not just Innocent but free from all insinuations of allegations against them.

“Today is actually a watershed in the history of Enugu State judiciary, alot of people have been looking up to this day, it has been a very serious case in the public domain” Ogbuka stated.

“The muder charge against my client and some other person’s, I led the defense for the second defendant, it is over two years we have been in this struggle, but today, we are thanking God because he has not only vindicated the innocence of the defendants but also that the judiciary is the last hope of the common man.