Court jails ex-youth leader, Ogana for 21yrs over alleged conspiracy, arson in Anambra

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

The administrative Judge of Onitsha Judicial Division in Anambra state, Justice J. I. Nweze Thursday, sentenced the former youth leader of Ogwuaniocha Community, Ogbaru local government Area, Anambra state, Okwudili Ogana for 21 years imprisonment for alleged conspiracy and arson.

In his judgement, Justice Nweze said his conviction was based on the fact that Ogana himself admitted in his evidence before the court that he had prior knowledge of the arson before it was committed.

Justice Nweze however stated that the period of years he had stayed in the prison custody, while his trial lasted from 2022 till date would be deducted from the 21 year jail term.

The judgement came shortly after two prosecution witnesses, Oliver Onybuchi Nnaji Jnr, son of the abducted and missing traditional ruler of the area,, Igwe Oliver Nnaji and Akachukwu Uzoalu, Secretary to the convicted Ogana during his regime as Ogwuaniocha youth leader testified against him, that he was the founder and leader of the dreaded Lion Squad that terrorized the entire Ogwuaniocha Community during and after his reign as their youth leader.

Nnaji Jnr and Uzoalu, led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Ikenna Egbuna SAN and cross-examined by the defence counsel, Oseloka Osuigwe SAN further testified before the court that Ogana, now convicted, at a stage, started parading himself as the traditional ruler of the community without certification by the state government to the extent that those who dared to oppose him were either shot and killed or injured in an attack by his dreaded Lion Squad.

Although, Ogana’s defence counsel, Osuigwe SAN could not speak to newsmen in court as to whether he would go on an appeal against his clients conviction for ,21 years, Ogana’s relations and loyalists told newsmen in court that they would definitely appeal against the judgement.

A defense witness, Christopher Obumseli had during the last hearing date, testified before the court that Okwudili Ogana is not a criminal but a law abiding citizen.

Led in his evidence by the defense counsel, Osuigwe SAN, Obumseli who claimed to be 80 years of age, said Ogana led Ogwuaniocha Youths Association for an upward of eight years and because of his quality leadership, the community selected him to be their traditional ruler before he was arrested for abduction of Igwe Nnaji alongside with six others in 2022, arraigned in court and remanded in prison custody.

Under cross-examination by the prosecution counsel, Ikenna Egbuna SAN, Obumseli told the court that he did not know if Ogana was the founder and leader of the dreaded Lion Squad that allegedly abducted Igwe Nnaji and set his palace ablaze on November 15, 2021.

Still under cross-examination, Obumseli further told the court that he was not aware that the missing Nnaji was the traditional ruler of the community before he got missing, adding that what he heard was that Nnaji was missing. He therefore pleaded with the court to discharge Ogana like six other accused persons for lack of evidence from the prosecution.

Ogana, now a convict and six others, Nduba Chibuzor, Ifi Silas Nwabuwa, Osadebe Sunday, Onyebuchi Ibenegbu, Chinedu Collins Nwonawi and Emeka Udom had been arraigned before the Court in 2022 on a four-count charge of conspiracy, arson, kidnap and murder.

In the charge No. 0/32C/2022, state versus the accused persons, according to C. C. Madukife, an Assistant Director in Anambra state Ministry of Justice, the accused persons had on November 15, 2021 at Ogwuaniocha in Onitsha Judicial Division, conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit: arson, kidnap and murder.

The prosecution further alleged that the accused persons had on the same date and venue while armed with guns, machetes and other offensive weapons, unlawfully set ablaze the dwelling house, other buildings and four cars belonging to Igwe Oliver Nnaji.

The prosecution stated that the offences were contrary to Sections 495 (a), 315 (1) (a), 474, 274 (1) and 416 of the Criminal Code, Cap 36, Volume II, Revised Laws of Anambra state of Nigeria, 1991.

In his ruling, Justice Nweze stated that the four charges of conspiracy, arson, kidnap and murder brought against the remaining accused person, Okwudili Ogana have been reduced to only two which included conspiracy and arson, while he has been absorbed of kidnap and murder charges.