EMMANUEL AKOMAYE AGIM JSC (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The appellant was the Vice Chairman of the Task Force of the Youths Association of Amaorie Ozziza Community in Afikpo North L.G.A of Ebonyi State. On 18-9-2016, as such Vice chairman, he and other leaders of the taskforce directed and led members of the said Task Force of the Youths Association of the Amaorie Ozziza to go out and force youths in the community that had refused to attend the meeting of the Youths Association holding that day at the community playground. Armed with sticks, machetes and axe, singing war songs, they invaded the home of one Ali Agha to compel him to attend the said meeting. In the process of compelling him to follow them, they killed him by inflicting multiple machete cuts on his body resulting in acute loss of blood.
Nine members of the group, including the respondent, were arrested by the police in connection with the incident. They were arraigned before the High Court of Ebonyi State,…