Enugu Court Jails LP Candidate Seven Years Despite Petition To NJC, Protests Over Magistrate’s Bias

In a controversial case, the Labour Party (LP) candidate for Enugu South Urban state Constituency, Hon Bright Ngene, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by the Enugu South Magistrate Court, sparking outcry and accusations of judicial bias. The verdict, delivered by Magistrate E.D. Onwu, came despite ongoing protests and petitions alleging unfair treatment and interference in the judicial process.Ngene’s legal troubles date back to a 2017 case involving the Nigeria Police Force, Enugu Command, regarding approximately N15 million linked to his community development fund. This case, dormant since 2017 when Ngene was the community’s legal representative, resurfaced following his electoral victory in the March 2023 House of Assembly elections.Following his election win, challenges arose from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, prompting a petition and subsequent order for rerun elections in eight polling units. Ngene has accused the Enugu State government and judiciary of colluding against him, alleging that the Chief Judge, Deputy Chief Registrar, and Magistrate Onwu disregarded a pending petition before the National Judicial Council (NJC).Ngene argued that the judicial actions were a deliberate attempt to prevent him from continuing his political career and maintain his seat in the Enugu State House of Assembly. Despite pleas for intervention from the NJC to halt proceedings until the matter was resolved, Magistrate Onwu proceeded with the case, citing instructions from higher authorities.The defense, represented by multiple lawyers including CJ S Okereke and Benjamin C. Nwobodo, objected vehemently, citing bias and requesting a transfer of the case to a different court. They alleged that Magistrate Onwu’s conduct was compromised and appealed to higher judicial bodies for intervention without success.The situation escalated when defense lawyers staged a walkout during court proceedings, denouncing what they viewed as a flagrant disregard for due process and fair trial principles. Community members from Akwuke also joined in, protesting Magistrate Onwu’s alleged partiality and demanding a fair judicial process.Despite these protests and ongoing petitions, Magistrate Onwu persisted, ultimately convicting Ngene and sentencing him to seven years in prison. This outcome has stirred significant public outcry, with accusations of judicial misconduct and calls for accountability within the Enugu State judiciary.