A High Court sitting in Ohaukwu, Ebonyi State, has sentenced four individuals to death by hanging after they were found guilty of the murder of 26-year-old Chinonso Elom, popularly known as Oscar. The tragic incident occurred on February 5, 2023, and sent shockwaves through the Ohaukwu Local Government Area, where both the victim and the convicted individuals hail from.
The convicts, identified as Anthony Elom (alias Tidy), Chibueze Onwe (alias Chief Ooo), Chukwuemeka Ugah (alias Parity), and a cousin of the current chairman of Ohaukwu LGA, were all found guilty of conspiracy and murder.
Delivering the judgement, Justice Esther Otah of the Ohaukwu Division of the High Court ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the four men were responsible for the cold-blooded killing of Chinonso Elom. The judge cited eyewitness testimonies and forensic evidence, including a ballistic report linking the murder weapon to the date of the crime, as critical components in the conviction.
Justice Otah emphasized that all four had acted with a shared criminal intention and that the fact that only one person pulled the trigger was immaterial in the eyes of the law.
According to the prosecution, the crime unfolded on the evening of February 5, 2023, when the four convicts, alongside a fifth accomplice, ThankGod Onwe—currently at large—drove to the victim’s business premises in a branded Sienna vehicle belonging to a well-known political party. Upon arrival at Ndulo Umuogudu Akpu Road, near Okwo Ngbo Main Market, they accosted Chinonso and demanded information about his younger brother, with whom they had reportedly had a dispute.
When Chinonso was unable to provide the information and resisted their attempt to force him into their vehicle, Anthony Elom shot him in the head at close range with a shotgun. He died instantly at the scene.
The murder sparked outrage and mass protests from Ngbo youths, who demanded justice. Following the public outcry, four of the five suspects were apprehended and charged to court by the Ebonyi State Government.
During the trial, the defence counsel, Barr. Chinedu Uwa, argued for the innocence of his clients, but the court found their explanations unconvincing. In response to the ruling, Uwa expressed dissatisfaction and announced his intention to appeal.
In contrast, the prosecuting counsel, Barr. Oluchi Ibiam, alongside supporting lawyers Barr. Chinedu Ugadu and Barr. Chinedu Ituma, welcomed the judgement, describing it as a just and accurate reflection of the case’s merit.
The President of the Amalgamated Ngboejeogu Youths, Barr. Michael Odo, also reacted to the judgement, acknowledging it with mixed feelings. He praised the court for delivering justice but lamented the broader societal implications, describing the entire incident as a “sad reminder of moral decay among youths.”
“This judgement does not call for celebration. It’s a sobering moment that underlines how promising youths from Ngbo and Ezzangbo turned to crime and became symbols of infamy rather than community development,” Odo stated.
With one suspect still on the run, the case serves as a stark warning against cultism and violence among young people in the region.
