My brother is trying to kill me, Enugu priest cries out

A Nigerian Catholic priest has dragged his brother, Amobi Ali, to court.

Reverend Father Anthony Ali of Nsukka Catholic Diocese in Enugu State says Amobi assaulted him, their father and threatened to kill them both.

The priest and his father alleged that the defendant, on February 2, 2021, at Umuopu Community, Enugu-Ezike, Igbo-Eze North, assaulted and threatened their lives.

When the case was called on Thursday, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to him.

But the defendant’s lawyer, Leonard Ekeh, prayed the court to admit his client to bail.

The Magistrate, Sylvester Eze, admitted the defendant to N100,000 bail with one surety in like sum.

Ekeh who advised the family to go home and make peace, adjourned the case to March 10 for hearing, should the peace talk fail.

Briefing journalists after the court session, Ekeh said it was a family matter that should be resolved at home.

He said that the defendant was beaten, arrested and arraigned because he advised his father, John and brother, the priest, to stop struggling over a piece land that does not belong to them but to one Dr Ejikeme Odumegwu.

“I stood in for Amobi Ali who was accused of beating his father and his brother who is a reverend father,” he said.

“The counts were three which borders on assault and threat to life. It’s a family domestic issue which should be settled at home considering the presence of a Catholic priest.

“My own observations and finding on the cause of the matter was that Amobi advised his brother and his father to hands off the land they are struggling over which belongs to Dr Ejikeme Odumegwu and they descended on him.”