Anambra Vigilante Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Murder of Phone Repair Technician

A High Court located in the Ogbaru Judicial Division of Anambra State has issued a death sentence by hanging to a vigilante officer identified as Onyeka Eze for the murder of Anayo Ugbo, a phone repair technician.

The verdict was announced by the presiding judge, Justice Charles Okaa, on Thursday, March 5, 2026, after Eze was found guilty of the crime.

According to the prosecution led by Assistant Chief State Counsel Chinyere Aganama-Onyeze from the Anambra State Ministry of Justice, the incident took place on May 5, 2022, at Shoe Site Market in Okpoko, Ogbaru Local Government Area. They reported that Ugbo was repairing a phone when Eze called him to meet their commander.

Although Ugbo requested additional time to complete his repair work, Eze insisted that he accompany him to the vigilante office, which is situated in a three-story building within the market. Ugbo eventually agreed and went along with his customer.

When they reached the vigilante office, the leadership was not present. Ugbo asked to return to his business, but Eze refused his request, instead demanding compensation for a previous incident involving a broken chair and spilled pepper soup—an accusation that Ugbo denied.

Frustrated by Ugbo's refusal to comply, Eze allegedly assaulted him and threw him off the third floor of the building. This assault resulted in severe head injuries, and Ugbo succumbed to his injuries two days later at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, where he had been undergoing treatment.

During the trial, the prosecution presented four witnesses: an eyewitness, a medical doctor who performed the autopsy, a police inspector, and Ugbo's brother, Sunday Ugbo.

The brother provided testimony stating that the victim had detailed the incident to him in front of his customer and the eyewitness, Joshua Igwe.

Eze, who claimed he was innocent, presented his defense but was unable to substantiate his status as a recognized vigilante officer during cross- examination.

In delivering the judgment, Justice Okaa confirmed that the prosecution's case had been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

"The prosecution established the murder case against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt," the judge stated during the ruling.

At the time of the incident, which occurred in 2022, Eze was 26 years old, while he is now 30 years of age.