His Lordship, Nnaemeka Ugboma, the Chief Judge of the Customary Court of Ejemekwuru in the Oguta Local Government Area, was assassinated by unidentified gunmen on Thursday while in a court proceeding, leaving Imo State in a state of extreme anxiety yesterday.
The incident was verified by eyewitnesses from the Ejemekwuru community and news reporters in Owerri.
The assassins had not yet offered a motive for the judge’s killing at the time this report was filed, but an eyewitness claimed that after the judge was shot and dragged out of the way. The gunmen claimed their task wasn’t yet over and that they were moving to another site to finish the job.
According to reports, they rode out on their motorcycles, shouting and shooting both inside and outside the courthouse after killing the judge.
Also confirming the incident, a colleague of the murdered Judge, Emperor Iwuala, wrote alongside the photo of the victim: “This is my learned brother, His Worship Nnaemeka Ugboma, Chairman (Judge) Customary Court Ejemekwuru Oguta LGA, Imo State, shot dead yesterday in court by yet-to-be identified persons. “We are indeed in a perilous time.”
The killing was also confirmed by Ugochukwu Allinor who is the chairman of the NBA’s Owerri branch.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Henry Okoye, had not yet responded to the incident as of the time this report was filled out.
