Ugwuanyi Angry With Magistrates Over Release Of Suspects

The governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, is said to be angry with some magistrates over their penchant for entertaining cases outside their jurisdiction for alleged pecuniary reasons. Ugwuanyi, who addressed some magistrates and judges in

Enugu last week over the matter, was alleged to have wondered how a magistrate could assume jurisdiction over a matter which happened outside his area and release suspected criminals on bail. His visit to the state Judiciary followed the alleged release of some criminals who later carried out a reprisal attack on some members of the local vigilante group- the Neighbourhood Watch who arrested them at Enugu Ezike, in Igbo Eze North Local Government Area of the state. The hoodlums who were released were later said to have laid ambush for the members of the vigilante group, who arrested them and burnt their operational vehicle although the vigilante group members escaped death by the whiskers. According to sources, the Neighbourhood Watch members were lured to the place where they were attacked by a police officer and a relation of one of the suspected criminals. Although, the Police were said to have re-arrested some of the criminals, Governor Ugwanyi was said to have been miffed over the development, hence his visit to the state Chief Judge, who reportedly summoned the magistrates to the meeting. A security officer, who is familiar with the case, told Vanguard that the policeman who arranged a meeting with the Neighbourhood Watch members also gave his assault rifle to the hoodlums to execute the assignment. According to him: “Some policemen brought the suspects from the cell in Enugu to Enugu Ezike where they procured a magistrate, who released them on bail. The said magistrate stays in Enugu Ezike because his court was burnt in the area of his jurisdiction.” However, some judges, who spoke on the outcome of the meeting, faulted the visit by Governor Uguwanyi, saying that the government could have petitioned the National Judicial Commission, NJC, instead of making a blanket condemnation of all the magistrates in the state. “Only two magistrates were said to have involved themselves in some of issues raised. The state government should have petitioned against them to the NJC,” they said. Source: Vanguard