Justice Linda Abai sentenced Kalu Ukeje popularly known as “Aka Ogbungwangwa” to death by hanging.
She said the prosecution was able to prove that Kalu was guilty of the murder of Sunday Nwadike in 2009.
Kalu was arraigned in 2009 alongside his alleged accomplices, Kingsley Ibegbulam and Uchenna Donatus for murder. The offence contravenes Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 30, Vol. 11 Laws of Eastern Nigeria, 1963 (applicable in Abia State).
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But on January 30, 2013, Kingsley Ibegbulam and Uchenna Donatus were discharged after a no case submission made on their behalf was upheld by the court.
One of the witnesses had testified before the court that Kalu killed his victim with a machete and set him ablaze.
The witness stated further that other members of the Bakassi group shot sporadically into the air to scare away people who attempted to rescue the victim.
In her ruling, Justice Linda Abai said: “There is only one punishment for the offence of murder under our law, which is death. Having found the accused guilty of the offence of murder under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, he is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”
Father of the deceased, Mr. Nwadike expressed satisfaction with the ruling, saying that justice has finally prevailed after four years of legal battle.
“He was a 100 level student of petro-chemical engineering when the incident occurred, but due to the wickedness of another man, he couldn’t live to see his dreams come through. He would have been a graduate this year had it been he was not killed. Now, we are going to start making arrangements for his burial, believing that his soul will finally rest in peace,” he said.
