Posted by From GODWIN TSA, Abuja on
Former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadiniju was Thursday, docked at an Abuja Chief Magistrate's Court over the murder of the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Onitsha Branch, Barrister Barnabas Igwe and his wife, Abigail.
Former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadiniju was Thursday, docked at an Abuja Chief Magistrate's Court over the murder of the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Onitsha Branch, Barrister Barnabas Igwe and his wife, Abigail.
Also docked with the former governor was one Mr. Daniel Enyiego whom the police said was an accomplice in the murder case. They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the accused persons are facing trial for criminal conspiracy, abatement of an offence and culpable homicide punishable by death, giving false information with an intent to mislead the public and causing the disappearance of evidence to shield the offence.
The suspects are also charged with allowing a third party to benefit from gratification and also for taking gratification to shield an offender. All the alleged offences, according to the FIR, are contrary to sections 97, 84, 162, 121 and 168 of the Penal Code Law.
Mbadiniju was accused of offering gratification to the tune of several millions of naira to conceal the crime. Sporting a red shirt, black trousers and black sandals, the former governor looked sober as he was led into the dock.
Police investigations revealed that Daniel Enyiego of no fixed address, collected the gratification at Rockview Hotel, Abuja, from the former governor.
The report stated that Mbadinuju had used his position as governor of Anambra State to engage the services of some persons currently on the run to facilitate the killing of Barnabas Igwe and his wife. The police further told the court that the suspects had given false information to the police so as to mislead them from the true facts of the case surrounding the killing of the Igwes.
It reads in part: "In furtherance of your (Mbadinuju's) dishonest intention in the month of October 2002 to November 2005, you gave gratification to the tune of several millions of naira for the concealment of the said offence in order to avoid legal punishment."
Attempt by the embattled former governor to secure bail failed as the trial Chief Magistrate, Usman Shaibu, declined ruling on his bail application, which was moved by his counsel, Mr. Gabriel Egbele. The magistrate adjourned the case to January 3,2006.
The court ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison custody.
Mbadinuju was arrested and flown to Abuja on Monday, following revelations by some suspects who had been picked by the police on the strength of his petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Sunday Ehindero, alleging blackmail and extortion.
The suspect, it was gathered alleged that Mbadinuju paid them the sum of 35,000 US dollars to eliminate Ken Emeakayi, his former Commissioner for Works.
The suspects had also told police detectives that the former governor wanted his political associates killed to conceal vital information on the murder of the Igwes.
Following this revelations, the IGP ordered the immediate arrest and detention of Mbadinuju, alongside some others, including a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Haruna, attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Awka, Anambra State capital.
At the heat of the murder, the embattled former governor had turned the table against Ken Emeakayi, who was arrested and arraigned over the murder of the Igwes.