A Magistrates’ Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Friday discharged a minor and remanded eight others charged with murder and cultism.

The police charged the minor alongside Emmanuel Amaech 25; Obioma Jame, 24; Uchechukwu Daniel, 22; Kelechi Ogbonna, 18; Godswill Nwite, 49; Felix Maduabuchi, 24; Obinna Joseph 22 and Paulinus Oboko, 48 with five counts bordering on murder and cultism.

In her ruling, Magistrate Blessing Chukwu discharged the 16-year-old boy after hearing that he was not part of the offence.

Chukwu ordered that the eight other defendants should be remanded in police custody.