Court remands man for k!lling his wife in Ebonyi

A Magistrate Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has ordered the remand of a 54-year-old man, Chima Eseni Etta, for allegedly k!lling his wife of 16 years, Ugochukwu Chima.

Chima is facing a count charge bothering on m8rder. 

Appearing in Court for the first time on Tuesday since arrest by the police, the accused did not take his plea.

The presiding Magistrate, Chinedu Agama only went through the case file before adjourning the matter to the 31st December, 2024 for a report of compliance.

Magistrate Agama directed that the case file be forwarded to the office of the State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for necessary information and legal advice.

The Court thereafter ordered that the accused person be remanded in the custody of the Abakaliki Correctional Service Centre.

The prosecutor, Emmanuel Monday, had informed the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence on September 4, at 60 Ogbaga Road, Kpirikpiri in Abakaliki Local Government in Ebonyi. 

Monday alleged that Chima caused the d3ath of the deceased by beating her with iron rods until she d!ed.

He said the offence was punishable under Section 319 (1) of the criminal code law, cap 33, Vol 1, laws of Ebonyi, 2009. 

Defence counsel, Daniel Onuoha, appealed for bail of his client but it was rejected because the court lacked jurisdiction over the case. 

Court records show that the deceased was a mother of three and married to the accused for about 16 years before her d3ath.