Land dispute: Anambra court sentences man to life imprisonment for killing uncle

By Joseph Egbeocha | IchieTimes

The Anambra State High Court, Awka Judicial Division, has sentenced one Silas Uwa to life imprisonment for killing his uncle, Mr. Nweke Eziokwu, following a family land dispute in Ebenebe, Awka North Local Government Area.

Justice Okechukwu Nwabunike of High Court 4, Awka, convicted Uwa after finding that the prosecution established his guilt through credible circumstantial evidence.

The court heard that Uwa and the deceased were disputing ownership of a parcel of land which their kindred had adjudged to belong to Eziokwu.

The defendant and his siblings were reportedly dissatisfied with the decision but did not seek legal redress.

The prosecution alleged that Uwa later confronted Eziokwu on his farm, engaged him in a fight and killed him with a machete.

The prosecution, led by Chief State Counsel Ifeanyi Oguejiofor, called four witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer.

The defence relied on self defence and argued that the prosecution failed to prove murder beyond reasonable doubt, particularly in the absence of an eyewitness.

Delivering judgment, Justice Nwabunike held that murder can be established through direct evidence, a confessional statement or circumstantial evidence.

The court ruled that although there was no direct eyewitness account, the circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution was credible and established that Uwa killed the deceased.

The court also rejected the plea of self defence.

Reacting to the judgment, Secretary of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter, Mr Nonso Emeka, said the case reinforced the directive of the Anambra Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Tobechukwu Nweke, that land disputes should be resolved through civil legal remedies rather than self help or violence.