Metro

Soldier Sentenced To Death For Murder, Armed Robbery In Akwa Ibom

Published

3 weeks ago

September 26, 2025

Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced a dismissed soldier with the Nigerian Army, 6 Battalion, Ibagwa in Abak, Corporal Stephen Iweh, to death by hanging for the murder of a 42-year-old man, Christopher Enobong Jimmy.

The incident occurred on 23rd May, 2021, along the East-West Road in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.

The late Jimmy, who was the Manager of a Clearing and Forwarding Company in Port Harcourt, had offered Corporal Iweh a lift in his car from Trailer Park in Onne, Rivers State, to Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom.

Along the way, at Oboro Junction in Ikot Abasi, the 39 year-old soldier shot him dead before fleeing with the vehicle and valuables.

Investigations revealed that Corporal Iweh, a father of three children, had illegally kept the AK-47 rifle which he said he “picked at Dambou, Borno State in 2018 and decided to keep it as personal arms”.

On the day of the killing, Corporal Iweh, was supposed to be on duty at the Army Store, 6 Battalion, Ibagwa, Abak, but abandoned his post to commit the crime.

He was later traced to Andy Guest House in Ukanafun, many kilometers from the scene of crime, where he was arrested and the rifle recovered.

In a judgment, the trial judge, Hon. Justice Bassey Nkanang held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that Corporal Iweh, a native of Ameke Nkor in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State, murdered Christopher Enobong Jimmy, an indigene of Ikot Abasi, robbed him of his Toyota Matrix car, while armed with an AK-47 rifle and unlawfully possessed the firearm without a license.

The late Jimmy, Manager of a Clearing and Forwarding Company in Port Harcourt, was travelling home in his grey Toyota Matrix, when he gave the soldier, who was in full military uniform, a lift, at the Trailer Park in Onne enroute Akwa Ibom State.

The soldier later shot Jimmy at a junction in Oboro, Ikot Abasi, where they had stopped to urinate and eat Pork meat, before fleeing with the vehicle and other belongings.

Justice Nkanang convicted him on a three-count charge. He was sentenced to death by hanging for murder, death by hanging for armed robbery, and 10 years imprisonment for unlawful possession of firearms.

In his plea for mercy, the convict begged the court for what he described as a “soft landing,” but his allocutus was rejected.

The late Christopher Jimmy is survived by his 34-year-old widow, Arit, who tearfully recounted that her husband had left Port Harcourt to visit his sister and family in Ikot Abasi, but did not return home.

Metro

Woman Begs Court For Custody Of Grandson, Demands N30,000 Monthly For Upkeep

Published

5 minutes ago

October 18, 2025

Editor

…I want to take care of my son myself, enroll him in school —Man

A middle-aged woman, Karimatu Sulaimanm, has prayed a Shari’a court in Magajin Gari, Kaduna State to grant her custody of her four-year-old grandson.

Karimatu’s counsel, Mr Usman Umar, told the court that his client’s daughter who was divorced by her husband, Bashir Abdullahi in 2021 had remarried.

“Since she has remarried, she no longer has the right for child custody and as such my client wants the child to remain in her custody.

“We want the former husband to pay N30,000 monthly allowance for the child’s upkeep”,he said.

On his part, Abdullahi disagreed with the complainant’s prayers, saying he wants his son back.

He prayed court to grant him custody of his child so that he can enroll him in a school and raise him in a good way.

“She does not allow my son to visit me at home. He does not know his relatives”, he said.

The judge, Malam Mu’awiyya Shehu, adjourned the case until October 21 and asked Abdullahi to produce witnesses.

Metro

My Husband Was Always In A Fury, Beat Me, Our Children Black And Blue, Starved Us —Wife

Published

10 minutes ago

October 18, 2025

Editor

…I can only afford N5,000 per month for each child’s feeding —Husband

Grade A Customary Court, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has put an end to the wedlock between a couple, Wosilat and Abass, on account of irresponsibility, constant fight and threat to life by the latter.

Wosilat explained that her marriage to Abass hit the rock because they failed to live peacefully with each other.

According to Wisilat, Abass was never patient with her, while he always sought every opportunity to beat her.

The plaintiff stated that the defendant always got angry easily.

According to the plaintiff, when the defendant was in this state, he would lose his reasoning and become fierce, acting violently.

She added that their children were always at the receiving end.

Wosilat further said that she moved out of her matrimonial home to prevent her husband from killing her when he was in his bad mood.

The plaintiff pleaded for custody of their children, who, according to her, were all presently with her.

She further begged the court to mandate her husband to be responsible for their upkeep.

Wosilat also prayed the court to mandate her husband to allow her to pack her belongings, which were still in his house.

She, in addition, sought an order restraining her husband from harassing, threatening, and interfering with her private life.

According to Nigerian Tribune, Abass denied all the allegations brought against him by his wife.

The defendant refused that the plaintiff had custody of all their children.

He stated that he had been responsible for their upkeep while they stayed with their mother.

He sought custody of their three children and due access to the remaining two with his wife.

Abass told the court he could only afford N5,000 per month as an upkeep for each of the children.

Wosilat, in her evidence, said, “My husband and I held our wedding ceremony according to Islamic rites, and he paid my bride price.

“I walked into our marriage with filled dreams, much hope and glee, but my dream became aborted, and my hope shattered as I counted months in our wedlock.

“I thought I knew my husband well enough while we were courting, only to discover I knew little or nothing about him when we got married.

“My husband did succeed in making my life unpleasant and miserable.

“He was never patient with me and was always filled with anger.

“My husband always loses control of himself when he is in this state.

“He would be fierce and beat me black and blue.

“Our children were also not spared when he was in this state because he would transfer his aggression to them.

“My husband would beat our children mercilessly for no just reason, and this made them feel uncomfortable whenever he was around and fear him.

“I decided to walk out of our marriage since I found no joy in it.

“I also took our children along with me to avoid him beating them to death.

“He had stopped carrying out his responsibility towards our children since we left him.

“I pray that the court dissolve our union and grant me our children’s custody.

“I also plead that the court mandate my husband to be responsible for our children’s upkeep, giving feeding, education and health care, priority.

“My lord, I still have my belongings in his house.

“I entreat the court to rule that he allow me to pack my belongings.

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

Abass responded, “I have never stopped carrying out my responsibility towards our children, even though they are with their mother.

“I give my wife between N30,000 and N45,000 every month for our children’s feeding.

“I also pay their school fees as at when due.

“My lord, I plead that the court grant me custody of our first three children while I have access to the remaining two with my wife.

“I promise to give each of them N5,000 per month as feeding allowance.

“I can not afford more than that.

“She is free to pack her belongings from my house whenever it pleases her.”

Giving judgment, after she had heard both parties, the court president, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, stated that they had obviously shown that they were no longer interested in their wedlock.

According to Akintayo, the plaintiff had already moved out of her matrimonial home with the kids and had also prayed for divorce.

She added that the defendant’s reaction and body language also showed that he had lost interest in their union.

Akintayo thus dissolved their marriage.

Metro

‘My Wife Accused Me Of Dating Other Women, Poured Dry Pepper On Me, My Friends’

Published

2 hours ago

October 18, 2025

Editor

A man, Olugbenga, has approached Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, seeking that an end be put to the 17-year-old marriage between him and his wife, Anatu, on the account of irreconcilable differences.

Olugbenga said that Anatu was always accusing him falsely of engaging in extramarital affairs and would fight him.

Oluwagbenga, in addition, said that Anatu once instigated her son from a previous marriage to hire thugs to beat him.

The plaintiff further stated that the defendant was hostile to his family members and his friends.

According to the plaintiff, the defendant once poured dry pepper on him and his friends, thus embarrassing him.

Olugbenga entreated the court for their children’s custody.

He also sought an order restraining his wife from harassing, threatening, and interfering with his private life.

Anatu was in court on the day the case was opened for hearing, and she denied all the allegations brought against her.

She refused to make an appearance on other adjourned dates.

Olugbenga testified that “My marriage to my wife has brought me nothing but shame and regret.

“I got married to Anatu in 2008. We have a Customary marriage and I paid her bride price.

“Peace deserted me the day my wife started living with me.

“Anatu is troublesome and difficult to live with.

“She was fond of causing trouble in our home and would end up fighting me.

“My wife was always suspecting me.

“She would accuse me of dating other women without having any proof.

“Anatu would turn the whole house upside down whenever she was in this mood and would cease that I had rest of mind.

“She would sometimes turn violent when fifteen and would destroy my property.

“My wife is also unfriendly.

“She hated it any time my friends came visiting and would refuse to attend to them.

“My friends and I were once discussing an important issue in my living room, and my wife rushed in, angry and shouting on top of her voice.

“She alleged that we were discussing our escapades with other women.

“Anatu, to my chagrin, ran to the kitchen, came back with a bowl of dry pepper, which she emptied on us.

“She did extend her hostile behaviour to my family members.

“My wife refused to attend the burial ceremonies of my grandmother, and likewise that of my grandfather.

“She gave no reasonable explanation for her action.

“My lord, Anatu once instigated his son from a previous marriage to hire thugs to beat me black and blue.

“I brought a divorce suit against her in a court, but I was prevailed upon by my family members and hers to drop the case.

“I sent her packing when it was obvious she was not ready to change.

“Anatu, still unrepentant, came to my house on a day that I was not around and broke my car windscreen.

“My lord, I have had enough of my wife’s atrocities.

“I pray the court to rule that we are no longer husband and wife.

“I again beg that the court grant me custody of our children.

“I have been taking good care of them since their mother left.

“I, in addition, request an order restraining him from threatening and interfering with my private life.”

The court president, Mrs O.E. Owoseni, in her judgment, stated that the defendant was given the right to defend herself, but she refused to come to court.

Rulings, Owoseni dissolved their union.
(TRIBUNE)