The four persons standing trial over the alleged murder of two brothers in Aba, Abia state have pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge brought against them.
The defendants were charged with the conspiracy to commit murder, murder and stealing of their parents’ property.
The defendants are Chigozie Ikeokwu, Amanna Temple, Chukwuebuka Nnamani and Chimezie Emmanuel.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that the deceased, Bright Chika, 9, and his brother, Victory, 7, were allegedly strangled to death by the defendants in their house at Abayi-Ogbuligba, near Aba on April 2, 2021, while their parents were away.
When the suit no HOS/13C/2021 was called up on Wednesday, Charles Okpaleke announced appearance for Ikeokwu and Temple, while Chima Esom and Chidi Nwachukwu represented Emmanuel and Nnamani respectively.
However, before the commencement of the matter, Nwachukwu told the court that he had an application awaiting the Commissioner of Oath’s signature before service.
He said he was presenting the application to stop the trial of Emmanuel “because he had no case to answer”.
But in a response, a Senior State Counsel, Uloaku Nwogu, argued that since the application had not been served on her team, the case should commence.
In a ruling, the Presiding Judge, Justice Teddy Eruba, said the suspects could take their plea since Nwachukwu’s application had not reached the court.
Eruba said that taking their plea on the charges would not stop the application.
When the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty.
The judge, thereafter, adjourned the matter to August 18 for hearing.
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