A 54-year-old man, Eseni Chima, has been charged with the murder of his wife, Ugochukwu, at an Abakaliki Magistrate’s Court in Ebonyi State.
The incident, which allegedly occurred on September 4, has drawn significant public attention.
The presiding magistrate, Chinedu Agama, stated that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the murder case and, as a result, did not take the defendant’s plea.
The magistrate directed the police to forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice and adjourned the case to December 31, 2024, for further hearing.
According to the prosecutor, Emmanuel Monday, the crime took place at 60 Ogbaga Road, Kpirikpiri, in the Abakaliki Local Government Area. Chima is accused of assaulting his wife with iron rods, resulting in her death.
The prosecutor noted that the alleged offence contravenes Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 33, Vol 1, Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009, which prescribes severe penalties for murder.
The defense counsel, Daniel Onuoha, requested bail for his client, but the court rejected the application due to its lack of jurisdiction over capital offences.
(NAN)