How ex-Imo NBA chair was macheted to death in office

Unidentified assailants have gruesomely killed a former Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Imo State, Ndionyema Nwankwo.

Nwankwo, 64, was murdered in his office in School Road, Owerri on Saturday, the association said in a statement.

The statement signed by Secretary of NBA, Chinedu Agu disclosed that the victim’s killing was discovered after he left home on Saturday and failed to return, a development that unsettled his family.

Agu said that one Ishmael Nkwocha, who shared office with Nwankwo, sprang into action after the victim’s family members bombarded him with calls seeking his whereabouts and urging him to check at the office.

Nkwocha was said to have visited the office in search of the victim only to find the office entrance door locked from behind.

He was also said to have discovered blood stains covering the entrance door.

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Nkwocha then swiftly reported to the police and detectives were deployed to the scene.

Agu said that the forensic experts arrived at 9:56 am with their gadgets, opened the door, and found Nwankwo’s bulky frame lying lifeless inside his office in the pool of his congealed blood.

He disclosed that examination of the corpse by the experts showed he was macheted as his neck, which bore deep cuts, was nearly severed from his head.

According to the statement, bloodstains splattered on the roof, fans, printer, computers, table, files, seats, books and bookshelves inside his office.

The NBA secretary stressed that Nwankwo appeared to have been busy working as his printer, computer, standing fan were on while a writing pad containing jottings unrelated to the incident and a pen were found on his desk.

“A bucket of water was seen in his office, with which the assailants might have washed their hands and matchet used in this act.

“A search of the office revealed a matchet abandoned inside the toilet in his office with which the assailant was suspected to have used to cut his neck.

“When his body which lay half prostrate was turned, matchet cuts were seen on his wrist also and the footprints captured by forensic experts suggested the act was done by two persons as the two footprints were unidentical.”

“As at the time of this report, Forensic Experts were still gathering evidential materials for their use accompanied by myself, L.C Ugorji, Uche Osuji, Ishmael Nkwocha, J.I Ogamba, D.O Nosike and a host of other Lawyers.”

Imo State Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Mohammed confirmed the incident, noting that investigation had commenced to identify the culprits and bring them to justice.