The Enugu State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, has said that the state will commence the prosecution of the alleged killers of a popular Enugu State-based musician, Okezie Mba, next week.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mba, otherwise called Igbo Jah, was shot dead in October 2024 at a Police Station in Enugu.
Udeh also said that the trial of one Sunday Echeji, who allegedly cut off the hand of his wife, Chinonso, would also begin next week.
He disclosed this during an interactive session with newsmen in Enugu on Thursday.
He said that the Ministry of Justice had qualified and competent lawyers to efficiently prosecute both cases.
Also Read:
- Many injured as LAGFERRY catches fire in Lagos terminal
- Abia to crack down on traditional rulers shielding criminals
- Nigerian pastor jailed in South Africa eight years ago for rape acquitted
- Solution FC end Lobi Stars Federation Cup journey in Aba
- Ex-NYSC DG Tsiga regains freedom from abductors
He said that the ministry was currently prosecuting many criminal cases, with over 100 criminal case files handled every month.
The Commissioner further said that the government had initiated different strategies to ensure quick dispensation of justice, including the digitalisation of court filing process, virtual trials, and introduction of Witness Support Fund.
Udeh said: “Now, the governor has approved what we call WSF, money earmarked for calling witnesses, especially in a criminal case.
“It was one of the things that stalled quick dispensation of justice before the current administration.
“You know that criminal prosecution is done by the state.
“You know that the government is not the victim or complainant in the case, and we call witnesses.
“Before now, no money was assigned to the prosecutor for calling witnesses.
“You may be asking if the witnesses are paid to come to court.
“We do not pay them, but we provide them with logistics.
“So, if you are calling a pathologist to come and give an expert evidence as an expert witness, they wouldn’t come until you give them money, not to pay them but their logistics.”
Udeh said that the government was using every legal instrument at its disposal, including granting of state pardon to deserving inmates, to decongest the correctional centres.
He announced that the Supreme Court had granted Enugu State full ownership of the Hotel Presidential, which, according to him, ended all litigations previously hindering the government from doing the needful.
He added: “Criminals were using Hotel Presidential as a hideout because it was a massive structure, no security there, so criminals were having a field day there.
“The court ordered us to go there in order to pursue criminals out because it has become a security threat.
“So we did that and started putting things in order.
“And then we started pursuing them with speed, knowing that there is a limit we can go because of litigation against the state.
“So we started pursuing the case at the Supreme Court.”
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
