Gunmen have killed a customary court judge, Nnaemeka Ugboma, in Ejemekwurun, Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State.
According to Daily Trust, the incident happened on Thursday afternoon when the gunmen, who came on motorcycles, invaded the courtroom, dragged Ugboma out, and shot him dead.
While escaping, the gunmen shot sporadically into the air to scare litigants and their counsels.
The slain judge was a native of Nnebukwu community in the same Local council and until his death presided over the magistrate court in Ejemekwurun
It was gathered residents fled their homes during the attack.
A colleague of the victim, Emperor Iwuala, in a brief statement confirmed the killing.
Iwuala said, “My learned brother His Worship Nnaemeka Ugboma Chairman (Judge) Customary Court Ejemekwuru Oguta LGA Imo State shot dead yesterday in court by yet-to-be identified persons. We are indeed in a perilous time.”
The chairman of the Owerri Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ugochukwu Allinor, also confirmed the killing.
However, the state police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, is yet to comment on the tragic incident as of the time of filling this report.