Murder of Enugu Nurse: Confessed suspect charged to court

The last is yet to be heard on the murder of former Head, Nursing Services, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Mrs. Maria Amadi.
It could be recalled that Mrs. Amadi was murdered right at the entrance gate leading to her apartment at the Federal Housing, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu.

The incident led to the arrest and subsequent arrangement of three of her colleagues at the Hospital.
However, after their arraignment before an Enugu High Court, the police, launched fresh investigation leading to the arrest of three suspected armed robbers, with one of them allegedly confessing to killing Amadi.
The investigation, which was carried out by the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Abuja, led to the trio of Chidiebere Ochi, Amandi Ekwo and Uchenna Onuora.

The charge No E/333C/2019, filed against them, before an Enugu High Court, was signed by Mr. Celestine Odo, a Superintendent of Police, attached to the Legal/Prosecution Section, Force CID.
They were alleged to have committed “armed robbery punishable under Section 1, (2) (a) and (b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap. R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010.”
Particulars of the offence as contained in the charge read: “Chidiebere Ochi ‘m’, Amandi Ekwo ‘m’ a.k.a. “Pharaoh”, Uchenna Onuora ‘m’ a.k.a. “Amigo” and others now at large on or about the 21st March, 2019 at about 1700hrs, at No. 38 Enugu-Ezike Street, Federal Housing Estate, Trans-Ekulu, Enugu, within the Enugu judicial division, while armed with two pistols loaded with ammunitions did rob one late Dr. (Mrs) Maria Amadi or her mobile phone, value yet unknown and an undisclosed sum of money and at the time of the robbery shot her at the lower abdomen and upper thighs.”

In the count 2, they were said to have committed murder punishable under Section 274(1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 30 Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.
Meanwhile, in an interim police investigation report signed by CP Olafimihan Adeoye, Commissioner of Police, FSARS, Force CID, he said “the case of criminal conspiracy and murder that was charged to court by the State Criminal Investigation Department, (SCID) Enugu State Command against Mrs. Buzo Ruth, Mr. Ndu and Mrs. Achara Stella should be withdrawn from court for further investigation.”
It added that “in furtherance of investigation, special attention be paid to the gang leader, who is at-large and his gang members to enable us establish the real killer and proper prosecution in the court of law.”
Our correspondent reports that prior to this latest development, there were hues and cries from members of the University Graduate Nurses Association, UGONSA, who felt that discreet investigations were not carried out before their colleagues were clamped into the detention.