By Adebisi Onanuga
The Court of Appeal, Lagos, has reserved ruling in a suit challenging a Lagos High Court judgment on the killings of four Ekwulobia youths.
Four traders at Ladipo Market, Anthony Ezenwafor, Chukwuemeka Ezeofor, Izuchukwu Ezeama and Alloysius Osigwe, all indigenes of Ekwulobia, Anambra State, were killed in their home in Surulere by officers of the Nigeria Police, 19 years ago.
The killing of the four boys brought a pathetic fame to their Ekwulobia community in Anambra State, as their case became popularly known as Ekwulobia Four.
A businessman at the Ladipo Market and leader of the Ekwulobia Youth Association (EYA) in Lagos State, Akaraka Chinweike Ezeonara, had filed the suit at the Lagos High Court, before Justice Oyindamola Ogala demanding for justice for the victims.
The Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Lagos State, a former Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Chief Marvel Akpoyibo, and the DPO of Aguda Police Station are defendants in the suit.
However, while delivering judgment in the suit, Justice Oyindamola struck out the case.
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The court ruled that the matter could only be brought under Writ of Summons and not Fundamental Right.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the claimants approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling of the lower court.
The matter had suffered several adjournment at the Court of Appeal.
On October 19, a three-man panel of the Court of Appeal — Justice O.F. Ogbuinya, Justice J.Y. Tukur, and Justice B.B. Aliyu — heard the matter and reserved judgment to a further date.
The four slain youths were accused of armed robbery and working for their master though no investigations were conducted by the Police before they were shot dead in their home in Surulere.
Their bodies were hurriedly buried by the Police.
The claimants had also written series of letters to President Muhammadu Buhari demanding for justice.
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