On Wednesday, the Enugu North Magistrate Court in the Enugu Magisterial District ordered the remand of three individuals, including a well-known suspected ritualist, Mr. Obi Levi Obieze, in connection with charges of kidnapping and murder. Obieze, along with Sebastine Emeka Offor and Odinwamkpa Ejike, was brought before Magistrate Osondu Chukwuani at Court 1 by the Enugu State Police Command, facing a seven-count charge involving conspiracy, kidnapping, and homicide.
According to the charge sheet, the trio allegedly conspired to commit kidnapping, an offense punishable under Section 495(a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Volume II, Laws of Enugu State (2004). The charge, numbered MEN/473c/2025, was filed by SP Justice Attah Esq, head of the police legal team.
It is alleged that between April and May 26, 2025, at around 6:00 p.m., the suspects—alongside other unidentified individuals—conspired and abducted victims along Umuojo Road in Ishiagu Village, Umumba Ndiagu Community, within the court’s jurisdiction.
They were also accused of using physical violence to abduct a 13-year-old girl named Ukamaka and a 15-year-old boy, Chimaobi Ezi, both acts falling under Section 315(2) of the amended Enugu State Criminal Code (2010). Furthermore, they allegedly kidnapped and murdered Chimaobi Ezi and Joy Miracle Udokamma, a 31-year-old woman.
The prosecution additionally claims that the suspects conspired to commit murder on or before May 21, 2025, and unlawfully killed both Chimaobi and Joy—charges punishable under Sections 494 and 274(1) of the state’s Criminal Code.
In a statement from Governor Peter Mbah’s media office, it was confirmed that the accused all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Because of the severity of the offenses, the magistrate directed that the case be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for review and proper filing at a higher court, noting that the Magistrate Court lacks the authority to try capital offenses. The matter was adjourned to August 20, and the suspects were remanded in prison custody.
Reports indicate that Obieze was arrested near the Badagry-Seme border while allegedly attempting to flee the country, shortly after the kidnapping and ritual killings that unsettled the Umumba Ndiagu community in May.
PunchNewspaper
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