Legal Tragedy in Anambra: Shock as Lawyer and Client Killed Returning from Court in Anambra

 

Residents of Egbebelu village, Nanka, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, were thrown into mourning following the brutal murder of a legal practitioner and his client on Wednesday, May 14. The duo were ambushed and fatally attacked shortly after leaving a courtroom in Ekwulobia, where the lawyer had successfully secured bail for an accused person in a high-profile murder case.

The tragic incident has sent ripples through legal and civic circles, with many questioning the growing insecurity in the region and the vulnerability of legal professionals engaged in criminal litigation.

According to the Anambra State Police Command, the victims were returning from High Court II, Ekwulobia, where court proceedings had taken place earlier in the day. Police preliminary investigations indicate that the victims had been trailed by unknown assailants. The attackers reportedly double-crossed their vehicle along a rural stretch of road and launched a coordinated assault.

One of the occupants of the vehicle miraculously survived the violent onslaught and is currently undergoing treatment at a medical facility. Police authorities confirmed that the survivor has already been debriefed and has offered valuable information now fueling ongoing investigative and tactical operations.

A statement released by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, revealed that both victims’ bodies have been recovered and formally identified by members of their respective families. The red Toyota Camry vehicle in which they were traveling—a car believed to be owned by the deceased lawyer—was found at the scene of the attack.

DSP Ikenga noted that the Commissioner of Police for Anambra State has ordered a sweeping investigation into the killings. Tactical units and intelligence teams have reportedly been mobilized and deployed across strategic areas to track down the attackers.

"This was not a random act of violence," said Ikenga. "The assailants appeared to have had prior knowledge of the victims' movements and executed the attack with calculated precision. The survivor’s testimony is proving crucial, and we are following up on several leads that could yield positive results in the coming days."

Security operatives are said to be working around the clock, as pressure mounts from both the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and human rights advocates to ensure the swift apprehension of those responsible for what is being widely seen as an attack on the justice system itself.

The slain lawyer had reportedly earned respect within legal circles for taking on difficult and controversial cases. His recent move to secure bail for a suspect in a murder case may have been the motive behind the fatal ambush, though authorities are not ruling out other possibilities.

Local residents have expressed both sorrow and fear, highlighting the deteriorating security situation in Orumba North and its implications for professionals working within the justice system.

“This kind of thing makes us scared to do our jobs,” a fellow legal practitioner remarked under the condition of anonymity. “It’s no longer just about upholding the law—it’s about surviving it.”

The Command assured the public that efforts are being intensified not only to bring the killers to book but also to prevent similar incidents in future. DSP Ikenga urged anyone with useful information to come forward, emphasizing that confidentiality would be maintained.

As the investigation gathers momentum, the community of Nanka and the larger legal fraternity await justice—not just for the deceased, but for a system increasingly under threat.