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The Ebonyi State High Court sitting in the Ohaukwu Judicial Division has sentenced four men to death by hanging for the brutal murder of 26-year-old businessman, Chinonso Elom, popularly known as Oscar.
Among the convicted is Anthony Elom, a cousin of the Chairman of Ohaukwu Local Government Area.
The tragic incident occurred on February 6, 2023, near Chinonso’s shop, located close to the bustling Okwo Ngbo Main Market. According to eyewitness accounts, the assailants—allegedly cultists and political thugs—arrived at the scene in a Sienna bus.
The group, identified as Anthony Elom (aka Tidy), Chibueze Onwe, Chief Chukwuemeka Ugah, and Uchenna Odono, confronted Chinonso, demanding the whereabouts of his younger brother due to a past altercation. When Chinonso failed to provide answers and resisted attempts to force him into their vehicle, Anthony reportedly pulled out a shotgun and shot him at close range, killing him instantly. A fifth suspect, ThankGod Onwe, remains at large.
The murder sent shockwaves through the Ngbo community, sparking protests led by local youths demanding swift justice.
Following a thorough police investigation and multiple eyewitness testimonies, four of the suspects were arrested and charged with conspiracy and murder.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, May 14, 2025, Justice Esther Otah of the Abakaliki High Court found the accused guilty. The court cited strong forensic evidence linking the weapon to the crime and described the defense’s case as “grossly insufficient.” Justice Otah emphasized that the murder was not only deliberate but carried out in concert, making each participant equally responsible.
She concluded the proceedings with a death sentence for the four convicted men, calling the act a “cold-blooded, premeditated crime.”
Reacting to the verdict, lead defense counsel, Barrister Chinedu Uwa, expressed disappointment and announced plans to appeal the decision. Meanwhile, the prosecuting team, led by Barrister Oluchi Ibiam of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Justice, praised the ruling as a major win for justice and a warning to those involved in politically motivated violence and cult-related killings.
