Ten students of the Ebonyi State University have been charged with the murder of six of their colleagues killed in a recent violent clash between feuding cult groups.
The suspects, on seven-count charge at the weekend at an Abakaliki magistrate's court, were remanded at the Federal Prisons in Abakaliki.
Police prosecutor, Sergeant Nwkoagu Ogboka, alleged that the accused persons conspired to murder six students during a clash between members of two cult groups, Black Axe and Vikings.
The clash occurred between July 6 and 9 in Abakaliki, Ogboka said.
The accused, students of the state university and other universities in eastern Nigeria, included Chinedu Ogah, Nonso Ezejiofor, Chima Nwoyo and Emeka Ekpenobi.
Others are Chika Mba, Cyril Ikeanyionwu, Nkem Madu, Uchenna Muoka, Ikechukwu Raphael and Chibuzor Onyekaomelu.
Defence counsel, Mr. Mark Akwuba, asked that the charges be struck out, arguing that the accused persons were not arrested at the scene of the crime and so could not be linked to it.
Magistrate (Mrs.) Destina Oko, said her court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
She ordered the prosecutor to refer the case file to the State's Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for proper action.
The Ebonyi State University had to be shut down on July 19 as a result of the bloody clash.