The Chief Magistrate Court, sitting in Umunze, in the Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra state, has ordered the arrest of one Reverend Father Ejike Nwankwo over threat to life .
The magistrate ordered the police to bring the cleric to court to answer for cases of assault, malicious damage and conduct likely to cause breach of peace against him in the court.
Issuing a warrant of arrest against Rev Father Nwankwo, the presiding Magistrate, His Worship Nnaemeka Nnacheta, ordered that the cleric be arrested anywhere he is seen and brought to court to answer charges against him.
The Anambra state Commissioner of Police, had dragged Reverend Father Nwankwo to the court in Charge No. MC/69c/ 21, for alleged offences including, threatening violence, assault, malicious damage and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
The Rev Father was also sued by
the Police Commissioner at the Federal High Court Awka, in Suit No. FHC/AWK/C/31/21 for alleged offence of obtaining property by false claim with intent to defraud, and fraudulently deceiving one Ms Nnenna Ezenwa, an America-based business woman.
In a five count charge at the Umunze Magistrate Court, Reverend Father Ejike Nwankwo and others at large, were charged thus:”That you Reverend Ejike Nwankwo, male of Maryland Catholic Centre Okpuko Awka and others at large, on or about 7th of May, 2021, at Umunze town in the Orumba South District, did commit the offences; threatening violence, assault, malicious damage and conduct likely to cause breach of peace, you thereby commit an offence punishable under Section 496 of the Criminal Code CAP 36 Vol.11, Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991.
“That you Reverend Father Nwankwo, male and others at large on the said date, place and aforesaid Magisterial District did commit the offence of assault, in that you assaulted one Nnenna Ezenwa, female, Chioma Julia, female, Chigazunwa Ugwu, female, and Christian Anointing, male by hitting them with fist blows and sticks on different parts of their bodies which caused them hurt, you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 250 and punishable under section 253 of the Criminal Code CAP 36 VOL. 11, Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria 1991.
“That you Reverend Father Ejike Nwankwo, male and others at large on the said date, place and aforesaid Magisterial District committed offence of threatening violence, in that you threatened the lives of Nnenna Ezenwa, Chioma Julia, Chigazunwa Ugwu and Christian Anointing, in the public place by saying you would kill them, their blood will flow today and also burn down the place they were which you did with intent of annoying them, you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 120 of the Criminal Code CAP 36 VOL.II, Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991.
“That you Reverend Ejike Nwankwo and others at large on the said date, place and aforesaid Magisterial District, did commit the offence of malicious damage in that you willfully damaged phones, motorcycles, vehicles and other properties of Nnenna Ezenwa, Chioma Julia, Chigazunwa Ugwu, Christian Anointing, by breaking them, you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 415 of the Criminal Code CAP 36 VOL. II, Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991.
“That you Reverend Father Ejike Nwankwo and others at large on the said date, place and in the aforesaid Magisterial District did conduct yourself in a public in a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by invading the work place of Nnenna Ezenwa, Christian Anointing and others at Havila Gold Inter-Biz Imprex Nigeria Limited Umunze and attacked them, you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 247 (d) of the Criminal Code CAP 36 VOL. II, Laws of Anambra State Nigeria, 1991.”
When the matter came up in court last time, the police prosecutor, DSP Patrick Ogele, drew the attention of the court to Reverend Father Nwankwo’s alleged consistent refusal to come to court to answer to the charges.
This prompted the presiding Magistrate to issue a Bench Warrant against him.
The warrant read thus”You are therefore hereby commanded to bring the defendant before the Magistrate’s Court of the Orumba South Magisterial District sitting at C.M.C Umunze forthwith to answer to the said complaints and be further dealt with according to the law.”
