By Okey Anyanwu, Owerri
At last court sitting on the Murder case of Late Engr Ubanna Henry Iroegbu, the murder suspect Chief Michael Ugorji Aguwa finally closed his defense submission.
Chief Ugorji who before commencing his defense, informed the court that he has not even a single human or documented evidence to prove his innocence, presented what could be perceived as long story of defense that at intervals when he sounded illogical sent the entire court into laughter.
He is now awaiting cross-examination by the Prosecuting Counsel and this is expected be at the next sitting.
This Suspect’s defense submission would not have been possible considering that his Defense Counsel tendered a ‘No Case Submission’ at the end of prosecuting witnesses’ submissions.
Fortunately for justice, the Presiding Judge overruled this ‘No Case Submission’ and ordered that the Suspect must answer to the murder charge.
This was following the Judge’s acknowledgement of very bold question marks against the claimed innocence of the Suspect, after employing his personal moral values, intellectual excellence and sound legal proficiency to review the submissions of the Prosecuting Witnesses and their Counsel.
It would be recalled that for the past three years, this high profile Murder case, because of its gruesome, deliberate and inhuman nature, has dominated public discussions and media spaces.
It involves the shooting to death of Late Engr. Ubanna Henry Iroegbu, a 38years Agricultural Engineering graduate of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike on the 28th of December 2021.
The murdered Engr Ubanna who hails from Omadibia village, Umuoma town in Onicha Nweorie Autonomous Community, of Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA, Imo State was a vibrant young man full of life.
His godly, accountable, good leadership qualities, efficiency in organization, developmental orientation, peaceful conducts among many other good attributes, endeared him to all that from 2019 when he graduated to this fateful 28th December 2021 he was murdered, Ubanna was the Youth Leader for the; St Dominic’s Catholic Parish Ezi-East, Ahiara Mbaise Catholic Diocese and Onicha Amairi Clan.
Witnesses that testified in court during prosecution, alleges that Late Ubanna met his untimely and heart devastating death through gunshots by the suspect, Chief Michael Ugorji Aguwa.
This was on that 28th day of December 2021, when he went to Chief Michael Ugorji Aguwa’s compound at Mbaraikoro village, Umueleagwa town in Onicha Nweke community of same Ezinihitte Mbaise, on a peace mission to placate a notified conflict between Chief Michael and his younger sister Mrs Ugonma Ewulon Aguwa (Nee Iroegbu), who is married to the Aguwa’s family.
Unfortunately, this very good, vibrant and healthy young man walked into his Uncle-in –law’s house to make peace, was carried out as a corpse to rest in peace, as his back shoulder was shattered with bullets wounds.
The disheartening incident has since that day rendered members of the bereaved family, the community and the entire Ahiara Mbaise Catholic Church in perpetual grief.
It has equally destroyed the ancestrally established and protected peaceful, brotherly and inter-marriage relationship between Umuoma and Umuelegwa as neighbouring towns, This murder incident, which happened in broad day light recorded many eye-witnesses from members of the Aguwa’s family and the Mbaraikoro village, with all accusing fingers pointing at the suspect, in the person of Chief Michael Ugorji Aguwa.
The eye witnesses that testified in t court include Mr. Edmund Ewulonu Aguwa who is the senior and only surviving brother of the Suspect. Mr. Edmund who considered it necessary to fully narrate the details of 28th December 2021 incident, informed that Late Engr.
Ubanna Henry Iroegbu, was the senior brother to his daughter-in-law Mrs Ugonma Judith Celestine Ewulonu Aguwa.
Following a notification from his sister that Chief Michael has threatened her to pack out of her husband’s house immediately or he (Michael) will shot her to death, including anybody who tries to protect her.
According to Mr Edmund, this threat was unwarranted, illegal and unacceptable considering that this lady is neither married to Chief Michael.
Rather Mrs Ugonma is married to Mr. Edmund’s son named Mr. Celestine Ewulonu Aguwa, who does not reside at home and did not return for the Christmas season with his family.
Importantly too, that year was the first time Mrs Ugonma was coming home after the 3rd year of her marriage and met Chief Michael for the first time in life that morning. Moreover, Mr Edmund and Chief Michael’s are clearly separated with walled fencing of about 4feet height.
Mr Edmund further narrated that Late Ubanna as a senior brother to Mrs Ugonma with both parents dead, came to inquire his sister’s crime that resulted to threatening to desert her marriage or would be shot to death.
Such that if found guilty, will either negotiate for peaceful solution or take his sister home until her husband returns instead of losing.
As expected, Ubanna went into Chief Michael’s compound, introduced himself and made inquiry of his sister’s offence to warrant death threat if she fails to pack of her marriage.
Chief Michael, according to Mr Edmund who at this point narrating in deep tears with his age at 80years continued, stating that he was watching from across the low fence demarcating their two compounds and saw Chief Michael brought out his gun, ordered Ubanna to leave his compound or he will shoot him (Ubanna) to death, use his money to seal the case and nobody from his (Ubanna) village has the capacity to question him.
Mr Edmund further stated further that this threat was immediately followed by gun shots fired into the air by Chief Michael. But as Ubanna who had raised his both hands up in surrender, turned and was leaving the compound, Chief Michael lowered his gun, fired directly at Ubanna’s back shoulder and causing him to fall down with blood gushing out.
‘Let me add here and this I told Michael’s lawyer when he questioned me in court’. Mr Edmund punctuated ‘Ubanna was never stubborn hands up immediate I saw Michael with the gun and questioned what good would he (Michael) gain if he shots his in-law because he ame to know why he want his sister to leave her marriage and he was killed him when he turned to leave.
While other onlookers who could have helped to catch Michael or rescue the shot man, I ran towards his gate to save Ubanna’s life. But the sounds of gunshot and shattered window glasses behind me, alerted me that Michael aimed the gun at me. I had to runaway using the backyard farm route calling out to the villagers for help to save Ubanna.
Meanwhile, Michael continued shooting sporadically to scare people away. When I returned with some courageous people including passersby.
We would have save Ubanna’s life-, the octogenarian continues with deep groaning, but devilishly to make rescue of Ubanna impossible until he dies, Michael locked his two gates with padlock and rained bullets on the tire of only motorcycle available there, which belongs to our kin-brother Mr Kenneth Esiaba, who came to visit him (Michael) that afternoon.
‘The death of Ubanna should have taken me, instead of that very good young man, who has been my strength and assistant in works and errands ever since his sister was married to my son.
That death was meant for me, I know because my brother had since 2019 warned me to prepare, organize my family and notify all friends that my life would never exceed beyond 2021, But instead of insisting in searching and get me killed, he has wasted a very good young life. What is the beauty of my life with Ubanna dying for me?
I am only waiting and praying for Ubanna’s death to get justice for me to join my ancestors in peace and face Ubanna there to announce that I got justice for him for coming to join him’, Mr Edmund Ewulonu Aguwa lamented.
The above narration by Mr Edmund Aguwa collaborated with that of Mr Kenneth. who is a kin-brother to Chief Michael, who personally invited him on that fateful day and the two were together at moment in Chief Michael’s house when the murder incident occurred.
Mr Kenneth who stood as a principal Prosecuting Witness, clearly testified in court, that he physically witnessed the shooting by Chief Michael and saw Ubanna’s body drop to the ground bleeding.
In addition to all the witnesses tendered against Chief Michael Ugorji as the Murderer, the bereaved family equally informed that since the murder prosecutions commenced, they have received many visitors claiming various relationships and associations with Chief Michael Ugorji Aguwa and sought for out of court resolution.
At each occasion, according to Mr Bernard Iroegbu, who heads the family, these people individually or as group testified to Chief Michael’s private admittance of guilt to the crime.
But once a written or recorded confessional statement from the suspect is demanded, such supposed peaceful moves would halt abruptly.
Having, been following this matter from onset, it was totally baffling at last date in court that Chief Michael as a murder suspect could openly at the beginning of his defense, declare in court that he has no witness to exonerate himself from this high criminal charge, could close his defense without presenting any substantial evidence.
No doubt, if does not have any witness or evidence, there cannot be any miracle about it.
It is however most worrisome, considering that all prosecuting witnesses and established evidences presented in court are all against him.
It is equally unfathomable for Chief Michael stand firm on; ‘I have never seen or owned a gun’, ‘I am never known as a Violent man’, ‘I am a renowned responsible family man’ and I am a peaceful community leader.
With several gaps observed between the prosecuting Witnesses accounts and the Suspect’s claims, a background survey on the Suspect became inevitable for interest of the public that have been following the matter, while the decision of the court remains the business of the Prosecuting Counsel and the Presiding Judge with cross-examination, situational and submissions analysis, as well as legal interpretations.
The survey at Mbaraikoro, generally presented that village members dread Chief Michael Ugorji Aguwa like a deity, whose fear is the beginning of wisdom. Some even reacted as though the trees and the ground would hear their words and report back to him and this would mean the end of their lives.
These concepts of fear and self-consciousness made this survey more tasking than anticipated.
Besides, there was already an awareness created with the information that a popular Owerri based social activist who met with Chief Michael Ugorji in the Owerri Correction center had earlier been to the village for a similar investigative journalism. However, duty call demands the filling of the observed gaps.
Mr Edmund Aguwa, the Suspect’s senior brother was willing to speak and he reliably informed that his younger brother Chief Michael owns and had been using a gun as far back as may be 2001.
In fact, it is not a secret in this village, the entire community and even at Aba where he resides, because he flaunts it whenever he attends public functions.
He will always shoot it to announce his presence in public, to remind us that he still has his gun or to threaten his offenders.
‘The gun has been his weapon of strength that at any slightest provocation or if his interest is threatened, he will confront such with his gun, threatening to kill, bury and close the case with money.
Mr Edmund Aguwa recalled that right from childhood. Michael has been dangerously pugnacious and is known and dreaded as a very violent man.
In Mr Edmund’s words, ‘Michael’s troubles sent our father to early grave. About ten or more years ago, my brother despite my several earlier warning for him to stop parading and threatening people with the gun, got himself into trouble when he shot at his neighbour in Aba.
Though the man did not die, but he (Michael) was detained at Port Harcourt Garrison (Military Base) for over three months. I know how much money and time I spent to close the matter’.
‘Personally my brother Michael came to my house in December 2019 pointing his gun at me before my wife and children threateningly declared that I should eat and enjoy myself throughout the following year 2020, because by December 2021 when I would be 80years, he would use the gun to kill me and sponsor my burial 100% without answering any question from any quarters and would be boasting that he (Michael) has the Police at his payroll, can pay off any lawyer and has the capacity to buy over any Judge.
It was in fear of this threat that I did not sleep in my house the night before this murder incident and this I used to do whenever Michael my brother comes home from the day he issued of that threat, Mr Edmund further submitted.
An encounter with one Nze Lambert, a community leader from Mbaraikoro village with the murder suspect, collaborated Mr Edmund’s position.
Nze Lambert confirmed that for about twenty years in their village, community and even among little children, the name Michael Aguwa is synonymous with gun and he is dreaded for it.
This community leader informed that there is a common jest or threat in some other quarters, which goes as: Iwe biam, agam eji egbe m gbabuo gi, okaria ya rie one million naira, okwu gbasara gi anwuo. (If I get angry, I will shoot you to death with my gun, the much I will spend would just be one million naira and the case would be completely closed).
This audacious and violent threat is credited to Chief Michael Ugorji as his traditional threat whenever offended by anybody. Nze Lambert further on, recount how on the 8th of February 2003, Chief Michael Ugorji Aguwa nearly shot him and his two other brothers; Mr Jude and Mr Donatus to death.
‘The day was the burial day of Michael’s mother and we as kinsmen were among entourage conveying the corpse from mortuary at Ogbor Nguru to Onicha. Chief Michael was celebrating his mother by endlessly shooting his gun in the air. But when we got to Ekeoha market square, Michael jumped out of his car, levelled gun in the direction of my brothers and I (Nze Lambert).
He only narrowly missed killing us. When after almost two hours we held the convey hostage and every effort to get explanation from Michael for such a murder attempt failed, my brothers and I left the scene and did not further participate in the burial ceremony.
A man who introduced as Chief Michael’s age mate but failed to give name for fear of his life retorted that the man has no room for peace, when asked if Chief Michael is truly peaceful as he claimed in court.
According to the age mate, ‘even in our age grade meetings, we can only start and end peacefully and achieve meaningful results only when Michael is not in attendance. He would either dismiss us with his gun or threaten all to accept his biddings’.
An additional account by the Chairman of Mbaraikoro village meeting informed the best way to assess Chief Michael’s peaceful and progressive attitude in the community is with a visit to the Village hall.
This building was stopped by Chief Michael at window level for over ten years today. This was with a threat to kill anybody who dares to continue the work until he permits.
Not because he owns the land, the village is indebted to him or for any other reason, rather that whatever does not have his permission would not take place in the village.
Today go there and witness the miracle these past three years of Michael’s confinement fin prison for the murder of Ubanna, the hall has witnessed completed block work, completely roofed and plastering seriously ongoing. We just hoping and praying that he does not come back and demolish it, the village leader prayed.
This journalistic and academic exercise on the Murder of Engr, Ubanna Henry Iroegbu is aimed at presenting a review, analysis and interpretation of the above and more submissions for the determination of justice in this matter, as well as to update the public that have been following since 2022.
No doubt, this murder case clearly presents a great legal puzzle, which only the presiding Judge, with the Prosecuting and Defense Counsels could judicially unravel in the defense of justice by deterring of criminality and upholding the rule of law, as well as to promote moral justice and peaceful co-existence in our society.
