Metro

Court Remands Enugu Monarch, Four Others For Murder

Published

2 years ago

June 6, 2024

An Enugu Magistrate Court, on Thursday, remanded the traditional ruler of the Igga community in the Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area, Igwe Herbert Ukuta, and a former councillor of the community in prison for alleged murder and being members of a terrorist group.

The monarch, who had been in detention for one month and two days at the state criminal investigation department, and four others were arraigned by the Enugu State Police Command on a 10-count charge before an Enugu North Magistrate Court 1.

In Charge No. MEN/320c/2024, between the commissioner of police (Kanayo Uzuegbu) and Igwe Herbert Ukuta (62); Festus Okonkwo (62); Ofadile Titus Henry (39); Sunday Ugwu (26) and Obinna Ayogu (54), the community leaders were accused of conspiracy, being members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and its security wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN); murder of five persons, including two policemen; and being a member of a terrorist group.

The police said the offences allegedly committed by the defendants are contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 25(3) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022 and Section 516(A) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

Some of the charges read, “That you, HRM Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’; Festus Okonkwa ‘m’; Ofadile Titus Henry ‘m’; Sunday Ugwu ‘m’; Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the day of May, 2024, at about 1315 hours along Adarice Farm Road, Adarice in Uzo-Uwani Magisterial District holden in Enugu, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit Membership of a Terrorist Group and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1) and punishable under Section 25(3) and Section 18 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

“That you, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’ and Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu, did recruit Festus Okonkwa ‘m’; Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’; Sunday Ugwu ‘m’ and others now at large into the membership and activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)/Eastern Security Network (ESN), which is a proscribed terrorist group by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 18 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

“That you, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’ and Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District held in Enugu, knowingly engaged in the activities of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Eastern Security Network within the Igga Community and Adarice Farm Settlement, concealed and failed to report the same to the law enforcement agencies, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 16(1)(a) and (b) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.

“That you, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta’m’; Festus Okonkwo ‘m’; Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’; Sunday Ugwu ‘m’; Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large, on the 3rd day of May, 2024, at about 13:15 hours along Adarice Farm Road, Adarice in Uzo-Uwani Magisterial District holden in Enugu, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 516(A) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Police Inspector Nwoga Cornellus ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Police Constable Ikowa Anthony ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Emegoni Aloysius ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkw ‘m’, Ofodile Titus Henry ‘m’, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Adada Joshua ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta ‘m’, Festus Okonkwo Titus Henry”, Sunday Ugwu ‘m’, Obinna Ayogu ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District holden in Enugu did unlawfully kill Eze Fidelis ‘m’ by shooting him with a gun, which led to his death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”

When the charges were read to them, they did not make any pleas, as the magistrate did not have the jurisdiction to entertain the case as the charges were brought under the federal act.

All the accused were subsequently ordered to be remanded at Enugu Maximum Correctional Centre.

Metro

The Woman I Married After 8yrs As widower Fights Me With Harmful Objects, Threatens To Kill Me

Published

15 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Editor

Grade A Customary Court sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has adjourned until February 2, a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Oladayo, against his wife, Leah, whom he married eight years after the death of his first wife.

Oladayo alleged that Leah did not love or care for him.

He added that she was stubborn and always loved to have her way. The plaintiff further said that the defendant was troublesome and in the habit of fighting him with harmful and dangerous objects, and added that she later took to threatening to kill him.

Oladayo explained that he came to court because he did not want the blood in his hands.

Leah was absent in court even though she was served court summonses.

Oladayo, during his testimony in court, said that he met his wife in 2017 through his church leaders.

He said: “I lost my first wife eight years before I met and got married to Leah.

“I waited that long to contract another marriage because my children from my first marriage were still in their tender ages when their mother died.

“The eldest of the three children then was just eight years old.

“I also did not want them to be emotionally and psychologically disturbed.

“I met Leah through my pastors in church.

“They introduced her to me and encouraged me to go into a relationship with her, which I did.

“Leah was well-behaved throughout the period we courted. This gave me the courage to go on with the relationship and I felt it was worth it.

“I was happy to put behind me the grief and sorrow I experienced when I lost my first wife and moved on with my life, but I never knew that the worst awaited me.

“I proposed to Leah, and she accepted to go into marriage with me.

“We held a church wedding and also carried out other relevant marital rites.

“I paid her bride price, but this was returned to me by her parents.

“Leah moved in with me, and then my life was turned upside down.

“The once gentle and easy-going lady suddenly went wild.

“She started to reveal a side of herself I had not known.

“Leah became unfriendly and hostile. She showed me no love and care. She was also in the habit of complaining and nagging. We hardly enjoyed each other’s company.

“Leah is stubborn and never took to correction because she believed she was always right.

“I lost my peace and derived no joy in our union.

“Leah always went irate any time we had a misunderstanding and would fight me with any dangerous object within her reach.

“I always left home any time she was in a rage because I did not want the blood of another person in my hands.

“I decided to return home no more after the last time we fought.

“She resorted to threatening to kill me after I left home.

“My lord, I pray this honourable court to end our marriage.

“I also request an order restricting her from threatening me and interfering with my private life.”

The court president, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, after she had heard the plaintiff, ordered that a fresh hearing notice be issued and served on the defendant.

She then adjourned the case until February 2.
(TRIBUNE)

Metro

My Husband Lives A Wretched Life, Drinks, Gambles, Woman Tells Court

Published

15 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Editor

…She’s is free to go —Husband

A woman, Rukaiat, has prayed for the dissolution of her marriage to her husband, Gafar, in a suit she filed at Grade A Customary Court, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, on the grounds of irresponsibility, gambling, drunkenness and threat to her life by the latter.

Rukaiat pleaded for the custody of their child, whom, according to her, he had constantly neglected and starved.

She prayed the court to mandate her husband to be responsible for their child’s upkeep.

The plaintiff also sought an order restraining the defendant from threatening her and from interfering with her private life.

Gafar, who was in court the first day the case was mentioned, acceded to divorce.

He also agreed that Rukaiat had custody of their child.

The defendant, however, denied the allegations of irresponsibility, gambling, and drunkenness brought against him.

He, however, failed to show up in court in the subsequent adjourned dates.

Rukaiat in her testimony told the court: “My husband is a drunk and gambler.

“I have had no rest of mind since I moved in with him after he paid my bride price.

“Our marriage is blessed with only a child who my husband found a herculean task taking care of.

“He constantly neglected me and our child and did starve us.

“My husband spent his income mainly on liquor.

“He would drink himself to stupor and stagger home, singing on top of his voice and disturbing our neighbours.

“He also gambles, which is another reason for his wretchedness.

“We fight almost every day because of his inadequacies.

“I moved out of his house after he turned me into a source of ridicule in our compound and neighbourhood.

“He took to threatening me after I left him.

“My husband went as far as hiring thugs who came to my shop to beat me up and destroy my goods.

“My lord, I pray that the court rule that we are no longer husband and wife.

“I also plead for the custody of our only child since my husband has failed in his responsibility towards her.

“I further request an order restricting my husband from threatening me and interfering with my private life.”

The court president, Mrs. S.M. Akintayo, gave her judgement on the matter, stating that the couple obviously had a valid customary marriage and that the bride price was paid.

According to her, the plaintiff had declared that she was no longer interested in their marriage, while the defendant also admitted to divorce.

Akintayo therefore ruled that the plaintiff and defendant ceased to be husband and wife.

She granted the plaintiff custody of their only child and ordered the defendant to be responsible for her upkeep, including feeding, education, and health care.

(TRIBUNE)

Metro

Our Marriage Lacks Love, Please End It, Woman Prays Court

Published

15 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Editor

Area Court sitting at Centre-Igboro, Ilorin, Kwara State, has dissolved the marriage between a couple, Hajara Busari and Mumini Anafi, on the petitioner’s request, following claims of lack of care and love.

While delivering ruling on suit, the presiding judge, Mr Toyin Aluko, held that the respondent had written a letter to the court, agreeing to divorce.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the court, consequently, dissolved the marriage between the parties and ordered the woman to observe one-month Iddah (waiting period) before contracting another marriage.

Meanwhile, the court granted custody of the four-year-old child produced by their marriage to the petitioner, being still in her tender age.

The court ordered that the respondent should pay the sum of N20,000 as monthly allowance for the feeding and maintenance of their child.

He added that he should be responsible for her education and health care. Aluko also held that the father be allowed unrestricted access to the child at reasonable time and should be notified before taking any decision on his child.

The judge ordered the petitioner to get a copy of the judgment and make same available to the respondent.

Earlier, the petitioner told the court that she was no longer interested in her marriage to the respondent, following lack of love and care.