Man 'kills' father over cooked yam in Ebonyi

A 37-year-old Ebonyi man, Chibueze Iduma, has been accused of killing his father with a walking stick after an argument over a piece of cooked yam.

The accused was said to have cooked the piece of yam and left for his friend's house only to discover that his father has eaten it when he returned.

It was gathered that the suspect committed the offence in the Amaefia Ngbo community in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of the state on December 20, 2019, but was arraigned on one count of murder on Thursday, January 9, 2020.

At an Ebonyi state Magistrate Court sitting in Abakaliki, it was learnt that the father, Emmanuel Iduma, ate the piece of yam cooked by the suspect.

“While they quarrelled over the cooked yam, the father hit the son with his walking stick and in retaliation, the son hit him back and the father fell down and died,” the police said according to Punch.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Chinedu Mbam, told the court that the offence was punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33 Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

The charge read, “That you, Chibueze Iduma, on December 20, 2019, at the Amaefia Ngbo village in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, under the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did unlawfully cause the death of one Emmanuel Oba Iduma by hitting him with a walking stick, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33 Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009".

The defence counsel urged the court to admit his client to bail, but the application was rejected.

The Chief Magistrate, Blessing Chukwu, said the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

The matter was adjourned till Saturday, February 29, 2020, for the report of compliance.