Gunmen on Monday shot and killed the presiding magistrate, Nnaemeka Ugboma when they attacked Ejemekwuru customary court in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
The gunmen who came on motorcycles invaded the court room, dragged the magistrate out and shot him dead.
It was learnt that the killers shot sporadically as they fled the scene.
The killing of the jurist caused confusion as litigants, court staff and even residents fled the community.
A source said that the slain magistrate was a law graduate of 1991 set and hailed from Nnebukwu community in the Oguta Local Government Area of the state.
A source said “he was killed while presiding a court session by gunmen who operated in motorcycles. Nobody knew they were killers.
Another source said ” ” the jurist was a law graduate of 1991 set. He was killed in his court while sitting. His killers came with motorcycles. They came into the court, dragged him out and shot him dead and drove off.
” His corpse was there as people in court fled. The whole thing is confusing because nobody knew any reason while they killed him. He was from Nnebukwu community in Oguta LGA here. “
A colleague of the victim, Emperor Iwuala who confirmed the killing in a brief statement he issued on Friday wrote” my learned brother His Worship Nnaemeka Ugboma Chairman (Judge) Customary Court Ejemekwuru Oguta LGA Imo State shot dead yesterday in court by yet-to-be identified persons. We are indeed in a perilous time.”
When contacted, the chairman of the Owerri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ugochukwu Allinor, confirmed the killing.
The spokesperson for the Police in the state, Henry Okoye, did not take his calls when contacted.
