The Anambra State High Court 2, sitting in Awka, the state capital, and presided over by Justice Onyinye Anumonye, on Friday adjourned two criminal cases instituted by the State against Vincent Udobi and 11 others, as well as Francis Chukwudebe and eight others, until July 24, 2026, for hearing.
Charge sheets obtained by our correspondent indicate that the cases were filed under Suit Nos. NN/10/C/2025 and NN/11/C/2025, respectively.
In Suit No. NN/10/C/2025, the State is prosecuting Vincent Udobi, Arinze Azodo, Samuel Ndeke, Chukwudimma Anene, Nwofor Chukwudi, Donatus Obidike, Jasper Azodo, Francis Chira Udobi, Chukwuemeka Nnabuenyi, Nze Onyebuchi Anene, Obinna Nwalioba Olichi, and Francis Chukwudebe.
In the second matter, Suit No. NN/11/C/2025, the State is prosecuting Francis Chukwudebe, Uche James, Uche Ogoemeka, Samuel Nweke, Nworah Ositadimma, Oliver Udobi, Chinedu Nwakwo, Ifeanyi C. Anozie, and Jude Chukwudi Chiobi.
According to the charge sheets, the defendants are facing charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, assault, attempted murder, and stealing.
The prosecution also alleges that the accused persons conspired to attempt to kill the immediate past President-General of Ifitedunu Community, Chief Uchenna Nwoye.
When the matters came up for hearing on Friday, counsel to the State, Barrister Fabian Okeke, sought to proceed with the cases.
However, counsel to the defendants, Ada Udobi, informed the court that she had a letter from the lead defence counsel, B.E.I. Nwafor, requesting an adjournment to a later date.
Udobi told the court that the letter had already been served on the prosecution and was also before the court for consideration.
She explained that the defence had not been fully briefed on the matters and, in view of the circumstances, urged the court to accept the application for adjournment and grant the request.
Objecting to the application, Barrister Okeke argued that the matters had been adjourned several times at the instance of the defendants.
He urged the court to take note of the repeated delays.
In his ruling, Justice Anumonye stated that, in the interest of fair hearing, the court would consider the defence’s application, stressing that the court had no intention of shutting any party out from presenting its case.
The court also queried the absence of the fourth defendant. In response, defence counsel informed the court that the defendant was ill. However, the court noted that no medical report or any documentary evidence had been presented to support the claim of illness.
A similar situation arose in the second matter, as the lead defence counsel was also absent but had forwarded a letter seeking an adjournment.
Consequently, the court adjourned both matters until Friday, July 24, 2026, for the hearing of the preliminary objections.
At the previous adjourned sitting, Barrister Fabian Okeke confirmed that the State had two separate criminal cases before the court.
He said: “We have two matters before this court. The first is Suit No. NN/10/C/2025, The State v. Vincent Udobi and Others, while the second is Suit No. NN/11/C/2025, The State v. Francis Chukwudebe and Others.”
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