The Abia State Police Command on Wednesday arraigned in court an ex-soldier, Johnson Ajayi, for allegedly killing a motorcyclist in Obingwa, Abia State.
The accused, then a corporal, committed the offence on August 7.
The 29-year-old reportedly shot and killed one Chimaobi Nwaorgu, a commercial motocyclist in Umuokereke Ngwa in Obingwa Local Government Area over N100 bribe.
He was said to have absconded but was tried by the Army after his arrest in an orderly room trial, where he was found guilty and subsequently dismissed. He was then handed over to the Police.
During the arraignment, the Police prosecutor, Adeyemi Olukoya, said the soldier was charged for a sole offence of murder.
The Charge Sheet Number U/587c, Commissioner of Police Vs Ajayi Johnson reads: “That you, Johnson Ajayi, ‘M’ on the 7th day of August, 2019 at Umuokereke Ngwa village Obingwa in the Obingwa Magisterial District, unlawfully killed one Chimaobi Jeremiah Nwaorgu ‘m’ by shooting him with AK47 Rifle/Firearm and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 80, Vol. 3, Laws of Abia State of Nigeria 2005.”
The suspect however said he was not allowed access to a defence counsel when asked in court.
The Presiding Magistrate, Linda Ugboaja, referred the case to the office of the state Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for onward transmission to the High Court and remanded the accused in the state prison, while adjourning the matter to September 16, 2019.
Meanwhile, wife of the deceased, Chiamaka Chimaobi, has pleaded with the government to give her a job as life had been hard since the demise of her husband.