A Ebonyi State High Court sitting in Ohaukwu Judicial Division has sentenced four individuals to death by hanging for the conspiracy and murder of 26-year-old Chinonso Elom.
The crime took place on February 5, 2023, in Ngbo community, Ohaukwu Local Government Area, where both the victim and the convicted hailed from.
The condemned are Anthony Elom (aka Tidy), Chibueze Onwe (aka Chief Oo), Chukwuemeka Ugah (aka Parity), and Uchenna Odono, a relative of a senior council official.
On the day of the murder, the four, along with an accomplice now at large named ThankGod Onwe, reportedly arrived at Ndulo Umuogudu Akpu road in a branded Sienna bus linked to a political party.
They stopped near Chinonso’s business area close to Okwo Ngbo Main Market.
Eyewitnesses claimed the men, believed to be members of a secret cult, demanded that Chinonso provide information about his younger brother, with whom they had a dispute. When Chinonso was unable to comply, they tried to force him into the vehicle.
After he resisted, Anthony Elom allegedly shot Chinonso in the head with a shotgun, killing him instantly.
The brutal killing sparked widespread outrage and protests from Ngbo youths demanding justice. Four suspects were arrested based on eyewitness identification, while ThankGod Onwe remains at large.
The suspects were charged with murder and brought to court.
Delivering the verdict, Justice Esther Otah ruled that the prosecution presented sufficient evidence, including eyewitness testimonies, to prove beyond reasonable doubt the guilt of the accused.
She dismissed the defendants’ defense as inadequate to clear them of the crime.
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A forensic examination of the recovered firearm matched the bullet that killed Chinonso.
Regarding why all four received the death penalty instead of only the shooter, Justice Otah explained that the men shared a common intention to carry out the unlawful act, making each liable for the resulting murder regardless of who fired the fatal shot.
The judge pronounced the sentences:
“Anthony Elom aka Tidy, you will be hanged until death. May God have mercy on your soul.
“Chibueze Onwe aka Chief Oo, you will be hanged until death. May God have mercy on your soul.
“Chukwuemeka Ugah aka Parity, you will be hanged until death. May God have mercy on your soul.
“Uchenna Odono, you will be hanged until death. May God have mercy on your soul.”
The defendants’ lawyer, Barrister Chinedu Uwa, expressed dissatisfaction and announced plans to appeal the judgment.
Meanwhile, Prosecuting Counsel Barrister Oluchi Ibiam and other legal representatives from Ohaukwu, including Barristers Chinedu Ugadu and Chinedu Ituma, praised the ruling as a fair execution of justice.
Barrister Michael Odo, President of the Amalgamated Ngboejeogu Youth, described mixed emotions about the ruling, acknowledging the verdict as a necessary deterrent against cultism and criminality among youths, while highlighting the tragic societal decay reflected in the murder.
“Fellow Ngboejeogu youths, it is with mixed feelings of sadness but fulfilment of heart that I wish to address you this evening on the judgment of the High Court of Ebonyi State, Ohaukwu Judicial Division, delivered today 14/05/2025, in the case of State vs. Elom Anthony & 3 Others where the four defendants charged with the murder of Elom Chinonso (aka Oscar) were convicted and sentenced to death.”
“This judgment does not call for celebration. It is a sad reminder of a terrible decay in our society.
“Those who were sentenced to death today are made up of two persons from Ngbo and two persons from Ezzangbo who could have added value to the society but chose the wrong path of criminality and ended up as a reference point in infamy.”
On 6/2/2023, youths of Ngboejeogu staged a peaceful protest against the gruesome murder of our brother Mr. Elom Chinonso (aka Oscar) by well known individuals.
“The protest was brought to me as the President of Amalgamated Ngboejeogu Youth and I promised the youths of Ngboejeogu that we will follow up the matter and ensure that justice is done. Today, that promise was fulfilled through the judgment of the High Court in the matter.”
“There is no need recounting the journey. However, I must thank in a special way the youths of Umuogudu Akpu Community, Umuezeaka Community, Umuogudu Oshia Community, etc who rallied round to draw the attention of the entire Ngbo people to this dastardly murder.
“I thank the Ngbo Leaders Council for calling the solemn assembly at Obodo Akpu, Umuogudu Akpu Ngbo where decisions were taken to ensure that the suspects were produced and handed over to the police for investigation.”
“Time is changing fast in Ngbo and cultism is becoming outdated and a nuisance. We call on all political leaders and youths in Ngbo to rise up and condemn cultism in all its ramifications and in the strongest terms.
“We pray that today’s judgment will teach the hard lesson it was intended to teach the youths of Ohaukwu Local Government Area.”, Odo added. Ends
