Ayodele Olalere
The Court of Appeal, sitting in Lagos, has reserved ruling in a suit challenging a Lagos High Court judgement on the killings of four Ekwulobia youths.
It was recalled that four Ekwulobia traders at Ladipo market; Anthony Ezenwafor, Chukwuemeka Ezeofor, Izuchukwu Ezeama and Alloysius Osigwe, all indigenes of Ekwulobia, Anambra State, were killed in their home, in Surulere are of the state, by suspected men of the Nigeria police, , 19 years ago and the death of the four boys brought a pathetic fame to their Ekwulobia community in Anambra State, as their case became popularly known as Ekwulobia Four.
A businessman at the Ladipo Market and leader of the Ekwulobia Youth Association (EYA) in Lagos State, Akaraka Chinweike Ezeonara, an indigene of Ekwulobia, filed the matter before the Lagos High Court, with Justice Oyindamola Ogala as the presiding judge, demanding Justice for the victims.
The suit was filed against the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Lagos State, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Chief Marvel Akpoyibo and the DPO of Aguda Police Station
However, while delivering judgement in the suit, Justice Oyindamola struck out the case. The court ruled that the matter could only be brought under Writ of Summons and not Fundamental Right. The claimants later proceded to the Court of Appeal.
The matter had suffered several set backs at the Court of Appeal. However, at the October 19 Appeal Court hearing of the matter, the three man appeal judge led by Justice O.F. Ogbuinya, Justice J.Y. Tukur, and Justice B.B. Aliyu, reserved judgement to a yet to be fixed date.
The four slain youths were accused of armed robbery working for their master though no investigations were conducted by the police before they were shot dead in their home in Surulere.
Their bodies were hurriedly buried by the police. The claimants had also written series of letters to President Muhammadu Buhari seeking justice.