₦airaland Forum

One-Chance Robbery: Anambra Keke Driver Sentenced to Death By Hanging Over Murder of Passenger Who Refused to Be Robbed


By Izunna Okafor, Awka

Barely seven years after, justice has finally caught up with a commercial tricycle operator in Anambra State as a High Court sitting in the state sentenced him to death by hanging for his role and involvement in the killing of a passenger during a failed robbery operation.

The convict, Makuachukwu Ezike, was found guilty by the court presided over by Justice Lauretta Oyeka over the death of one Jude Onwuegbuchunam, an indigene of Umuoji in Idemili North Local Government Area, who lost his life after being pushed out of a moving tricycle by members of a notorious "one-chance" robbery gang.

According to reports, the incident occurred on November 17, 2019, along the Oba–Obosi–Nkpor–Umuoji Road shortly after the victim boarded what appeared to be a commercial tricycle, unaware that it was allegedly being used by criminals to prey on unsuspecting passengers for One-Chance robbery.

Court proceedings revealed that Ezike, alongside two accomplices who are still on the run, allegedly disguised themselves as a tricycle operator and passengers before luring the victim into the tricycle on that fateful day.

However, during the journey, the criminal gang in the tricycle reportedly attempted to dispossess the passenger (Mr. Onwuegbuchunam) of his mobile phone and other valuables. However, when he resisted their demands and raised an alarm, the attackers allegedly resorted to violence.

Further into the tragedy and in a desperate attempt to silence the victim and evade arrest, the criminal gang reportedly pushed him out of the moving tricycle at high speed near Abidi Hall in Umuoji, immediately they sighted some local vigilante operatives stationed along the road.

This immediately prompted the vigilantes to chase after the fleeing suspects. Although the gang initially escaped, they abandoned the tricycle during the chase before disappearing from the area.

Luck, however, ran out on Ezike the following day when he reportedly returned to recover the abandoned tricycle. He was subsequently apprehended by vigilante operatives who handed him over to the police for investigation.

According to reports, investigators later obtained a confession from the suspect, while evidence gathered during the inquiry linked him to the crime.

Meanwhile, the victim, who sustained severe injuries from the fall, reportedly battled for survival for two days before eventually succumbing to the severe injuries and pains he suffered from the attack.

Speaking during the trial, the prosecution presented five witnesses, including the medical doctor who conducted the post-mortem examination. The medical evidence established that the injuries sustained by the deceased in the incident were directly responsible for his death.

Although the defence team argued that there was no eyewitness account directly linking the defendant to the killing, the court held that criminal convictions are not based solely on eyewitness testimony.

In her judgment, Justice Oyeka explained that the law also recognizes confessional statements and circumstantial evidence as valid grounds for conviction where such evidence points clearly and irresistibly to the guilt of the accused.

The court noted that the chain of evidence presented before it, including the abandoned tricycle, the suspect's conduct after the incident, his confession, and the medical findings, formed a compelling and unbroken link connecting him to the crime.

Describing the evidence as overwhelming, the court found Ezike guilty of murder and subsequently sentenced him to death by hanging.

The judgment is expected to serve as a warning to criminal elements who use commercial transportation, especially tricycles, as a cover for robbery and other violent crimes in Anambra State.

Onitsha and robbery for keke na 5 and 6

The fact that this is a good news, it'll also be better if the government/judges are also sentencing bandits, kidnappers and political thieves to death by hanging

Serves him right useless set of people

Judiciary is a joke in this country, imagine it took the victim to get justice after 7 years.

Chai. Very heartless idiot. Still came back for his keke to commit another crime. Anyways, I just hope he wasn’t coerced by the REAL criminals/accomplices to go and retrieve the keke on their behalf. Despite his confessional statement, things Dey happen o. A LIE DETECTOR TEST WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER

How I wish there can be unity in Nigeria...

Terrorists and kidnappers should be executed by firing squad.

His name is makuaChukwu which simple means ... Embrace God
But he choses to Embrace evil

So the vigilantes couldn't not catch even one of the criminals after a hot chase?

One-chance robbers are the scum of the earth, but I am yet to hear of a single terrorist or "bandit" as they are whitewashed to be, sentenced to any form of punishment.

DeltaBachelor:
Chai. Very heartless idiot. Still came back for his keke to commit another crime. Anyways, I just hope he wasn’t coerced by the REAL criminals/accomplices to go and retrieve the keke on their behalf. Despite his confessional statement, things Dey happen o. A LIE DETECTOR TEST WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER

Just my thoughts. I really do hope he was one of those criminals, and not coerced by the real criminals to go retrieve the keke with 'Bia wey, biko ga buterem keke m di na umuoji..Onwelu ebe m no kita, nga ye gi 10kpa'

The guy hearing 10kpa, decides to go carry keke for his guy man, hand come grab am.

I just hope it is not the case..

Shedrack777:
The fact that this is a good news, it'll also be better if the government/judges are also sentencing bandits, kidnappers and political thieves to death by hanging

Kpele I heard the guy is your father so sorry that they sentence him and ignore bandit

If we can have this kind of judgement across board, we will have lesser crime.

SultanYoung:
Kpele I heard the guy is your father so sorry that they sentence him and ignore bandit

bandits never touch you, na why you make this statement.
Always comprehend while reading.

Bellgal:
Serves him right useless set of people

The tragedy of this news is that two of the accomplices are still at large 7 years after

Peter Obi legacy has done it again

osuofia2:
Judiciary is a joke in this country, imagine it took the victim to get justice after 7 years.

Even police is yet to arrest the other 2 accomplices 7years after. Omorrrr

osuofia2:
Judiciary is a joke in this country, imagine it took the victim to get justice after 7 years.

You think it's the next day they give judgement in "saner climes"?

erad:
You think it's the next day they give judgement in "saner climes"?

7 whole year, that is how corrupt leaders delay judgment till it's forgotten. I hope you ar not among the fleeing suspects. Because this your question get k leg

damble:
How I wish there can be unity in Nigeria...

Was Jonathan the president in 2020? Abegi let them tell us another lie, this one does not lap at all, we all saw him come out to protect during the subsidy removal protest under Jonathan

But Terrorists are termed repentant and set free. Selective justice is what is kiIIing this country

Shedrack777:
The fact that this is a good news, it'll also be better if the government/judges are also sentencing bandits, kidnappers and political thieves to death by hanging

The problem is not the sentencing but execution as governors are not willing to execute them.

People by nature do not have self control

Dalohad:
Just my thoughts. I really do hope he was one of those criminals, and not coerced by the real criminals to go retrieve the keke with 'Bia wey, biko ga buterem keke m di na umuoji..Onwelu ebe m no kita, nga ye gi 10kpa'

The guy hearing 10kpa, decides to go carry keke for his guy man, hand come grab am.

I just hope it is not the case..

Ezigbo nwa otu has spoken

What's the point of all these death sentences when the evil doers don't get executed? They remain in prison till a new government comes in and grant them pardon.

Make I reach our own. EX KEKE rider Sonnobax15 House

osuofia2:
7 whole year, that is how corrupt leaders delay judgment till it's forgotten. I hope you ar not among the fleeing suspects. Because this your question get k leg

I asked a simple question, it doesn't warrant for throwing tantrums like a child. You either answer the question or STFU!

So to enter keke now is a risk

erad:
I asked a simple question, it doesn't warrant for throwing tantrums like a child. You either answer the question or STFU!

i gave you an answer? how many years do people get justice in saner climes.
The two accomplis are still missing till today