Nnaemeka Ugboma, the presiding President of Ejemekwuru Customary Court in Imo State’s Oguta Local Government Area, was assassinated by gunmen.
The gunmen ambushed the court president, dragged him out during a hearing, and shot him dead at close range.
According to The Nation, the gunmen, who arrived on motorcycles, fired sporadically as people fled the scene.
The killing of the jurist sparked chaos, with litigants, court staff, and residents fleeing for safety.
According to a source, the slain magistrate was a 1991 law graduate from Nnebukwu community in the state’s Oguta Local Government Area.
He said: “He was killed while presiding a court session by gunmen who operated in motorcycles. Nobody knew they were killers.”
Another witness said: ”The jurist was killed in his court while sitting. His killers came with motorcycles. They came into the court, dragged him out and shot him dead and drove off.
”His corpse was there as people in court fled. The whole thing is confusing because nobody knew any reason they killed him. He was from Nnebukwu community in Oguta LGA here. “
President of Customary Court, Ihiagwa, Emperor Iwuala who confirmed the killing to the Nation correspondent on Friday, wrote: ”My learned brother His Worship Nnaemeka Ugboma Chairman of the Customary Court Ejemekwuru Oguta LGA Imo State shot dead yesterday (Thursday) in court by yet-to-be identified persons. We are indeed in a perilous time.
“We have vowed not to sit until the whole issue is resolved.”
When contacted, the chairman of the Owerri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ugochukwu Allinor, who confirmed the incident, described it as an “unfortunate situation.