KEY POINTS

• Family of murdered RCCG member Princewill Ikenna accused the Cross River judiciary of delaying justice and allowing suspects to walk free.
• The victim was allegedly shot dead in Ikom in 2023, while his stolen Lexus vehicle was later traced to Lagos.
• Family members claimed court proceedings have suffered repeated delays, with some suspects reportedly released on health grounds.

The family of Princewill Ikenna, a member of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, has renewed its call for justice nearly two years after his murder in Ikom, Cross River State, alleging that suspects linked to the crime are still walking free.

In a fresh appeal, a concerned individual identified as John accused the Cross River State judiciary of frustrating efforts to prosecute those allegedly involved in the killing.

According to the message made available to SaharaReporters, one of the suspects allegedly fled to Lagos with the victim’s vehicle on the same night of the murder. The vehicle was later traced to a mechanic workshop where it was reportedly being repainted.

John claimed that police completed their investigation and transferred the matter to the Ikom judiciary in 2023, but the suspects were later released without any meaningful progress in the case.

He appealed to authorities to pressure the Ikom court and the Cross River State judiciary to ensure a speedy trial, lamenting that the victim’s family had continued to suffer while the suspects moved about freely.

How The RCCG Member Was Killed

Princewill Ikenna was reportedly murdered in September 2023 after leaving home to get a haircut. His brother, Ernest Onyeka, said the family was invited the next day to identify his body, which was discovered in the Grassfield area of Ikom.

Ernest revealed that the deceased sustained three gunshot wounds to the head, while his Lexus RX350 vehicle was stolen after the attack.

The stolen vehicle was later tracked to Lagos, where it was allegedly being modified at a mechanic workshop.

Police investigations reportedly led to the arrest of a cleric, Pastor Peter Uchenna, who was allegedly found in possession of the vehicle.

During interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted being in Ikom on the day of the murder and allegedly mentioned other individuals connected to the crime, including a man identified as Elvis Ntui and another suspect known simply as Barry.

The case was later transferred to Cross River State and assigned to Ikom Court 2 for prosecution.

However, the victim’s family alleged that some suspects, including pastors linked to the matter, were later released on health grounds.

They also accused the court of repeatedly delaying proceedings, changing hearing dates without proper notification and failing to ensure justice for the slain RCCG member.

The family had previously appealed to the Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, the state Attorney General, Ededem Charles Ani, and the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Akon Bassey Ikpeme, to intervene in the matter.

Speaking on the delay in the case, Ernest Onyeka lamented that more than two years after the killing, the alleged perpetrators were still moving freely while the family continued to seek justice for their late brother.