An Onitsha High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State has sentenced a notorious robbery kingpin, Ikechukwu Udensi (Ikanda) to death by hanging for killing a successful Onitsha businessman, late Ndubuisi Nwokolo in the state.
Recall that on 29 June 2018, a day to the ban of commercial motorcycle in Onitsha, Ikanda an agent of government collecting revenue for the state, extorted the Okada man conveying Ndubuisi Nwokolo to his shop at No 21 Otumoye street Odoakpu, Onitsha, Anambra state.
When the deceased wanted to save the okada man, Ikanda and his boys descended on him and started beating him with offensive weapons such as machetes and cutlasses until the victim died on the spot.
The death of Mr Nwokolo generated public outcry in the state, raising concerns why IKANDA should be killing people in the course of revenue collection or at any slightest provocation.
After committing the crime, Ikanda who hails from Azia town in Ihiala council area of Anambra state, was on the run untill Anambra State Police Command under the leadership of CP Mustapha Dandaura declared him wanted and placed one million naira bounty on anybody that could give information leading to his arrest. He was subsequently arrested on 31st March 2019, paraded, prosecuted, committed to prison custody in Onitsha and now convicted.
His conviction gave succour to Nwokolo’s family, who for the past five year, has been crying for justice; and here, the long-awaited justice came at last.
Due to security challenges, the case which has been holding at Onitsha High Court was moved to Awka for it’s judgment.
But, delivering the judgement in Awka, the presiding judge, Justice D. A. Onyefulu said the convict Ikanda shall be hanged by the neck untill life goes out of him and shall be committed to the prison custody before his death.
The mother of the deceased, Mrs Kate Nwokolo has continually cried for justice against IKANDA over the unwarranted gruesome murder of his son and breadwinner of the family (Ndubuisi Nwokolo), leaving behind his wife and children to wallow in penury for the past five years.
She thanked the God of Justice for allowing the truth to prevail and expressed satisfaction with the judiciary for doing the needful at this moment in time.
In a judgement paper made available to newsmen, the case was contained in Charge No 0/48c/2019 between the State versus Ikechukwu Udensi (Ikanda); the prosecuting counsel was Tonia Nnabuife, Senior State Counsel for the state while Barr C. J Agbata stood for the convict.###
