The Nnewi High Court 3, sitting in Awka on the trial of the suspects of the St Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu massacre was yesterday told that the perpetrators of the heinous crime had issued death threats to some Ozubulu indigenes living in South Africa and Brazil.
Giving evidence in chief, a witness, Chukwuemeka Obi, who resides in Johannesburg, South Africa told the court presided by Justice F.I Aniukwu that the killers of the 13 worshippers on August 6, 2017, at St Philip’s Catholic Church, Ozubulu, had threatened to kill him, his father in Ozubulu, his younger brother in Brazil and attack four families in the community.
Obi, who was led in the evidence by the prosecuting counsel, Jay Jay Ezeuko (SAN) said, “the killers have threatened to kill my father in Ozubulu, attack four families in Ozubulu; kill my younger brother, who is living in Brazil and myself, living in South Africa.
“They are demanding one million dollars from us or they will wipe all of us. We have been receiving strange phone calls from these people. They accused me of being a betrayer because on one occasion, I traveled with Bishop (Aloysius Ikegwuonu) from South Africa to Nigeria; rode in his car from Lagos to Ozubulu.
Obi alleged that one of the suspects standing trial before the court in the case, Chinedu Akpunonu, was working with two persons he called Gozila and Afam, who are in jail in South African prison to terrorize the people of Ozubulu at home and abroad.
Also testifying in the court yesterday, another witness Emeka Nzelu, also resident in South Africa told the court that another suspect standing trial in the case, Onyebuchi Mbanefo gave him a phone call and threatened to deal with “Bishop” for abandoning him at a point in need.
Nzelu, who was also led in evidence by the prosecuting counsel said, “Mbanefo told me that he would now join forces with Akpunonu to deal with Bishop for failing to assist him to foot his bill for bullet wound surgery, despite the fact that it was because of Bishop that he sustained the wound. He refused to accept all appeals I made to him to forgive bishop.”
When asked during cross examination by the defence counsel, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), if he ever reported such threat to the police in South Africa or Nigeria, Nzelu answered, no, stating he only reported the matter to the chairman of Ozubulu Development Union in South Africa.
Meanwhile, the presiding Judge, Justice Aniukwu yesterday refused the four suspects standing trial bail.
Ruling on the bail application by the suspects, Justice Aniukwu held that the risk of releasing the suspects outweighed their freedom, adding that they did not prove exceptional circumstance to warrant their bail.
Justice Aniukwu adjourned the trial to May 16 and 25; June 8 and 22; and July 6 for continuation of hearing.
-Sun
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