The Chief Magistrate Court 1 Bende, in Bende LGA of Abia State, on Thursday, adjourned the case involving HRH Eze James Ogbonna, Mr Igwe Anyim and Ndukwe Sunday Igara to 27th March, 2025.

The matter was adjourned by the Chief Magistrate, His Worship Elizabeth,while the defendants were remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Umuahia.

The case is in connection with the alleged involvement of the defendants in the murder of one Isaac Ndukwe, an indigene of Umuekpa Item in Bende LGA of Abia State in 2024 .

When the matter came up on Thursday, the Police Prosecutor, U. Ekpo said that the Prosecution had shown much seriousness in the case by filing information before a High Court, which he said, would enable the defendants appear and take a plea.

But the Counsel to the three defendants, J. Osisiogu said that the Prosecution Counsel did not serve any information to any of the defendants even as of Thursday when the matter was going on.

Osisiogu, who said that the traditional ruler and two other defendants are presumed innocent until proven contrary, argued that the traditional ruler is extremely sick as a result of being kept in the Correctional Centre and should be granted bail.

He also complained to the Chief Magistrate that somebody was seen using a mobile phone to take the pictures of the traditional ruler, Eze James Ogbonna inside the Court for an unknown purpose without the consent of the monarch.

But after stepping down the matter down for one hour to enable the Prosecuting Counsel to properly file his application, the Presiding Chief Magistrate ordered that the original case file be remitted to DPP and adjourned the matter to 27/03/2025.

Abia court remands traditional ruler, two other community leaders in custody