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The Ebonyi State Government on Friday charged 33 suspects at the State High Court, Abakaliki, over communal clashes between two communities in the state.
The two communities are Amasiri Community in Afikpo Local Government Area and Okporojo community in Oso Edda, Edda Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were charged with four counts of conspiracy, communal disorder, arson and murder.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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The suspects include two traditional rulers, Geoffrey Onya and Idam Bassey, as well as the Coordinator of the Amasiri Development Center, Byron Anya.
Also charged were Emmanuel Ngwoke, Samuel Eni, Eze Ekeocha, Chukwudi Nwachinemere, Chukwuemeka Ifesinachi, Emmanuel Ogbonnaya, Julius Oko, Eze Uchendu and Sunday Eburu.
The defendants who allegedly committed the offense on January 29, 2026 killed Kalu Dick, Ifeoma Oduko Uduma, Anthony Ekumankama and Eze Orji Ndukwe at Okporojo community in Oso Edda
The offense, according to the prosecutor, is punishable under Article 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Chapter 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009.
The defendants’ attorney, Chief Mudi Erhenede, verbally applied for bail for five suspects, including two traditional rulers, the development center coordinator, and two female defendants.
Erhenede urged the court to grant them bail based on their status and the provisions of Order 7 of the Criminal Justice Rules, 2023.
He argued that the defendants had been detained for five months and police had recommended their release.
However, the state Government Advisor, Mrs. Chinyere Anoke, representing the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Ben Odo, opposed the bail application.
Anoke argued that the accused were facing murder charges and granting them bail was inappropriate.
Judge Emmanuel Ogbunnefi adjourned the matter to June 5 and June 17 so that the defense could submit a written and formal bail application.
