A 34-year old man, Chidiebere Okoro, has been remanded in correctional centre for allegedly killing his female cousin, Nnennaya Onu and burning her corpse for demanding her late father’s inheritance in Ebonyi State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the defendant, Okoro, was arraigned before the Abakaliki Magistrate Court in Ebonyi State.
The defendant is facing one-count charge of murder under the Criminal law of the State which attracts several years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.
The prosecutor, David Njoku, told the court that the defendant committed the offence sometime in December 2021 at Amagu, Anike, in the Onicha Local Government Area of the state.
He alleged that the defendant murdered Nnennaya Onu, his cousin, for demanding her late father’s inheritance.
According to him, the deceased, a graduate of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, was killed and her body burnt beyond recognition.
The prosecutor also alleged that the victim’s family, comprising her mother and siblings, had been driven out of their late father’s compound about five years ago by relatives over inheritance issues.
He said the offence contravened Section 390 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 33, Vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009.
The defendant’s plea was not taken after he was arraigned before the Court.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Chinedu Agama, ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Federal Correctional Centre, Abakaliki and directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for legal advice.
Mr. Agama also directed that the case file and exhibits be returned to the Department of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
The matter was adjourned till 7th May, 2026, for mention for the report of DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.
