Final Year Student, 3 Others Arraigned For Arson

A 400 level student of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and three other persons have been arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court for allegedly burning three houses and two vehicles.

The accused are Valentine Iroanya (25), Nwafor Uzochukwu (28), Chinedu Apugo (28), and Kelechi Nwosu (25), standing trial on a seven-count charge of conspiracy, malicious damage and arson.

In his First Information Report (FIR) the prosecutor, Cpl. Sunday Okoye, told the court that Iroanya, Uzochukwu, Apugo and Nwosu burnt a Nissan Pathfinder Jeep and a flat booth Mercedes Benz car worth N4.2 million and N3.2 million, respectively property of one Chike Ugoji at Ehume Umuopara, Umuahia on September 30.

Okoye also alleged that the accused burnt down a house belonging to Ugoji and a supermarket owned by one Andy Okoronkwo and other valuables estimated at over N218.5 million.

The prosecutor told the court to assume jurisdiction on the matter, adding that the police brought them to Umuahia rather than Ubakala to avert security breakdown.

Okoye said that the offences were contrary to sections 443, 451 and 516 of the Criminal Law, urging the court to refuse the accused bail, owing to the seriousness of the offences.

According to him, the four accused may jeopardise their trial by jumping bail if the court decides grant them bail.

After the charge sheet was read out, Iroanya and the three other persons pleaded not guilty.

The Counsel to the accused, Mr Slyvester Ihekoronye, however, opposed the prosecutor’s stand and applied for their bail.

“Let the court not fall to this obvious temptation by refusing bail to the accused persons. One of the accused persons is a 400 level student of University of Agriculture Umudike, and will need to defend his project.”

After listening to both the prosecutor and the defence counsel, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Maureen Ahukanna, granted bail to each of the four accused persons in the sum of one million naira and two sureties.

She ordered that the surety must reside either within Umuahia North or South Local Government Areas and must be civil servant of the rank of Grade Level 13 and must present two years tax clearance with two passports among others.

Ahukanna adjourned the case to October 17, October 20 and November 3 for hearing.