An Ebonyi Magistrate’s Court, sitting in Abakaliki, has remanded two men Richard Okpu, 20; and Ginikachi Idam, 18, in prison custody for allegedly killing their friend one Kelechi Isaac.

According to investigations by The PUNCH, the deceased went to a Marabout and obtained a charm (Ode eshii), that would prevent bullets from penetrating into his body, any time he is shot at.

To test the efficacy of the charm, the victim, had after drinking the charm, asked his friends to shoot him.

It was gathered that the victim had died after his friends shot him in his chest. The late Isaac was also said to have brought the gun which his friends used to test the efficacy of his newly-acquired charm.

According to one of the suspects, Richard Okpu,

“I don’t know this kind of temptation. We were on our own and our friend, because three of us are friends, came and told us he has gotten Ode eshii (charm) and that any of us, who takes it and is shot, would not have the bullets penetrate into his body.

“We said okay, how do we know if it is working? He went and brought a gun from one hunter and said we should fire him, that the bullets would not enter. It was then that we fired him and he died.

“We didn’t mean to kill him. We just wanted to test the efficacy of the charm. God, please help us.”

The suspects allegedly committed the offense on February 5, 2020, at Amasiri, in the Afikpo North Local Government Area, of the state.

They were arraigned before the Magistrate’s Court on Monday, on two counts bothering on murder and felony.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Edet Effiong, told the court that the offence was punishable under sections 324 and 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

The charge read,

“That you Richard Okpu ‘m’ and Ginikachi Idam ‘m’ on the 5th day of February, 2020, at Amasiri community Afikpo North in the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit; murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That you Richard Okpu ‘m’ and Ginikachi Idam ‘m’ on the same date and place, in the aforesaid Magisterial District did unlawfully cause the death of Kelechi Isaac ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”

Application made the suspects Defense Counsel, E.C. Nwokposi, that his clients be admitted to bail, was not granted.

The Chief Magistrate, Chinedu Agama, said the court the jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.

He directed that the suspects be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Abakaliki, while their case file should be forwarded to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in the state, for necessary advice.

The matter was adjourned till March 3, 2020, for report of compliance.