Onitsha Bizman Murder: Convicted Robbery kingpin to Die by Hanging

By Praise Chinecherem

A High Court sitting in Onitsha, Anambra State has sentenced a notorious robbery kingpin, Ikechukwu Udensi to death by hanging for killing an Onitsha based businessman, Ndubuisi Nwokolo.

Ikanda, a revenue agent of government, had on June 29, 2018, a day to the ban of commercial motorcycle in Onitsha, extorted a motorcyclist conveying Nwokolo to his shop at No 21 Otumoye street Odoakpu in the commercial city.

The deceased, while attempting to save the cyclist, was descended upon by Ikanda and his boys, beating him with machetes, cutlasses and other offensive weapons until he breathed his last.

Delivering the judgement, Presiding judge, Justice D. A. Onyefulu said the convict shall be hanged until life goes out of him and shall be committed to the prison custody before his death.

The death of Nwokolo had generated public outcry in the state as to why IKANDA should be killing people in the course of his duty at the slightest provocation.

Since then, Ikanda had been on the run until he was declared wanted by State Police Command under the leadership of CP Mustapha Dandaura who placed N1million bounty on anybody that could give information leading to his arrest.

He was subsequently arrested on March 31, 2019, paraded, prosecuted and committed to prison custody in Onitsha before he was finally convicted.

Ikanda’s conviction brought succour to the deceased family, who had been crying for justice for the past five years.

Mother of the deceased, Mrs Kate Nwokolo had continually cried for justice against IKANDA over the unwarranted gruesome murder of his son and breadwinner of the family (Ndubuisi Nwokolo), leaving behind his wife and children to wallow in penury for the past five years.

She thanked the God of Justice for allowing the truth to prevail and expressed satisfaction with the judiciary for finally doing the needful.

In a judgement paper made available to newsmen, the case was contained in Charge No 0/48c/2019 between the State versus Ikechukwu Udensi (Ikanda); the prosecuting counsel was Tonia Nnabuife, Senior State Counsel for the state while Barr C. J Agbata stood for the convict.