Two sureties in the murder trial of Chukwuebuka Anuta before the Anambra State High Court, Awka Division, have formally applied to withdraw their suretyship in the matter.
The application, brought by way of a motion on notice with Suit No. MN/18M/2026, is pending before the court presided over by Hon. Justice G. C. Anulude.
The applicants, Edwin Obiora Samuel and Anuta Israel Chineze, stated that they no longer wish to remain sureties for the defendant.
In the motion of notice filed through their counsel Mrs Victoria Okani,the applicants are seeking:
An order of this Honourable Court permitting Edwin Obiora Samuel and Israel Anute Chineze, both of Iruobieli Village, Enugwu-Agidi, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State, to withdraw as sureties to Chukwuebuka Anuta in Charge No. MNJ/75C/2022 between Chukwuebuka Anuta and the Commissioner of Police;
And for such further order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.
In support of the application, the sureties deposed to an affidavit stating that the defendant was admitted to bail on 7 September 2022 by the Anambra State High Court, Awka Division, sitting as a Vacation Court, presided over by Hon. Justice N. L. Oyeka, and that they executed the bail bond and submitted all required documents to secure his release.
They further averred that after the defendant was granted bail, he began issuing threats to their lives and causing disturbances within the community, thereby endangering their safety.
“We now seek to withdraw our suretyship in the said charge,” the applicants stated in their affidavit.
The sureties said that the application was made in good faith, without malice, and solely for the preservation of their personal safety.
When the matter was called earlier , it was notice that the case file was not available in the court.
The defendant was absent from court and not represented by counsel. The court further inquired whether the defendant had been served with the application,the applicant lawyer Mrs Victoria Okani confirmed that service was duly effected and they acknowledged.
The Court want to know about the case despite the absence file,
Okani explained that the application concerned a motion by sureties to withdraw their suretyship in Charge No. MNJ/75C/2022.
In his ruling, Justice Anulude noted that, in the absence of the case file and given the circumstances, the matter could not proceed. The court therefore adjourned the case to Friday, 30 January 2026, for hearing of the motion on notice.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, one of the sureties, Israel Anuta Chineze, stated that their decision to withdraw stemmed from the defendant’s failure to comply with the conditions that necessitated the execution of the bail bond.
According to him, “Mr. Chukwuebuka Anuta has been threatening our lives and creating unrest in the village. We cannot continue to stand surety for someone who disobeys court orders and puts our lives at risk.”
The case arose from a petition submitted by Dr. Chinedu Ikeanyi, a concerned citizen of Enugwu-Agidi and son of Late His Royal Highness, Igwe Davison Okafor to Anambra Governor, Prof Charles Soludo, with copies sent to the Commissioner of Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and other security agencies, over the alleged killing of Anayo Nwora in Awka, the state capital.
Following the petition,a request for justice for late Anayo Nwora family, his wife and 5 children was called.
Chukwuebuka Anuta and others involved need to be arrested and made to stand trial before the High Court on charges connected to the murder.
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