The High Court of Anambra State, Awka Judicial Division, has sentenced Silas Uwa to life imprisonment for killing his uncle, following a dispute over family land in Ebenebe, Awka North Local Government Area of the state.
Justice Okechukwu Nwabunike handed down the sentence on Monday after finding Uwa guilty of manslaughter in Suit No. A/63C/2018.
The court heard that the dispute arose over ownership of a parcel of land at Ebenebe, which the family kindred had adjudged to belong to the deceased. The defendant and his siblings reportedly rejected the decision.
According to the prosecution, instead of seeking legal redress, Uwa confronted his uncle while he was working on the disputed farmland, engaged him in a fight and hacked him with a machete, resulting in his death.
The prosecution, led by Chief State Counsel Ifeanyi Oguejiofor, with Principal State Counsel Ijeoma Ugboaja, called four witnesses, including the Investigating Police Officer, to establish its case.
The defence, however, pleaded self-defence and argued that the prosecution had failed to prove the charge of murder beyond reasonable doubt, particularly because there was no eyewitness to the killing.
In his judgment, Justice Nwabunike held that a murder case could be established through direct eyewitness testimony, a confessional statement or credible circumstantial evidence.
“The court further held that notwithstanding the absence of direct eyewitness evidence, the prosecution proved through credible circumstantial evidence that the defendant killed the deceased,” the judge held.
Justice Nwabunike also rejected the defendant’s plea of self-defence, but convicted him of the lesser offence of manslaughter rather than murder.
“The plea of self-defense did not avail the defendant in the circumstances. Therefore, he was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to life imprisonment,” the judge ruled.
Reacting to the judgment, the Secretary of the Law Officers Association of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter, Nonso Emeka, said the case reinforced the directive of the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, that parties involved in land disputes should pursue civil remedies rather than resort to self-help.
Emeka said disputants should seek legal remedies, including actions for declaration of title to land, instead of turning civil disputes into violent or criminal matters.
