Gunmen have killed a prominent Anambra lawyer, Barrister Ifeanyi Iloakasia, and his client shortly after they celebrated a legal victory at the Ekwulobia High Court on Thursday.
Barr. Iloakasia, who was also the President General of Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area, had just secured the acquittal of his client in a longstanding murder case.
The two were ambushed and killed while driving home together in high spirits after the court ruling.
Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants, who arrived on motorcycles, opened fire on their vehicle.
One of the victims was shot while seated inside a red saloon car, while the other was killed while attempting to flee.
No valuables were taken, sparking suspicions that the attack was a targeted assassination.
The murder has triggered widespread grief across the legal community, the Aguleri town, and Anambra State at large, with calls for justice and urgent security intervention.
The Traditional Ruler of Enugwu-Otu Aguleri, Igwe Emmanuel Ejimofor, expressed deep sorrow over the killings.
He described Iloakasia as a courageous and community-driven leader who used his legal expertise to promote peace, serve the underprivileged, and champion justice.
“This is a painful loss,” the monarch said.
“Barrister Iloakasia believed in justice and used his profession to stand for what was right. His death is a monumental blow to Aguleri and Anambra State.”
Following the tragedy, the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, visited the crime scene in Egbebelu, Nanka, alongside senior officers.
Police spokesperson SP Tochukwu Ikenga confirmed the incident and disclosed that the CP had ordered a full-scale investigation and manhunt for the assailants.
Preliminary findings revealed that the murdered client was one of the accused in a 2016 murder case.
Iloakasia had taken up his defense in 2021 after the suspect was linked to another crime and remanded in custody.
After years of legal proceedings, the suspect was finally acquitted on Thursday—only to be killed hours later alongside his lawyer.
The remains of both victims have been deposited in a mortuary.
Security agencies have been urged to act swiftly in apprehending the culprits and restoring public confidence.
The incident has heightened fears and tension in the state, with many demanding protection for citizens, especially those in the legal and judicial sectors.
The Star
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