Gunmen on Thursday ambushed Customary Court, Ejemekwuru in the Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State and shot the presiding magistrate, Nnaemeka Ugboma dead.
Our correspondent gathered the gunmen who rode on motorcycles invaded the court room, dragged the magistrate out and shot him dead.
The assassins thereafter shot sporadically while bolting from the scene.
The killing of the Magistrate caused pandemonium as litigants, court staff and residents fled the community.
A source said that the slain magistrate hailed from Nnebukwu Community in the Oguta Local Government Area of the state.
According to the source, the Magistrate was a 1991 Law graduate.
The source said ;“He was killed while presiding a court session by gunmen who operated in motorcycles. Nobody knew they were killers.
Another source added; ” ” 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 confirmed the murder in a statement he issued on Friday.
Iwuala 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.
He was yet to respond to a text message sent to his mobile number at press time.
