Enugu state Police Command has arraigned and charged three suspected kidnappers and ritualists, Obi Levi Obieze and two others to Magistrate court,Enugu , on a seven-count charge of several incidents of kidnapping and murder in Umumba Ndiagu and environ in Ezeagu LGA of Enugu State.
The suspects were arraigned in Court 1 , Enugu North before His Worship, Osondu Chukwuani, on Wednesday in Enugu.
The charge sheet marked MEN/473c/2025 signed by the Prosecutor and Head of the Legal Team, Enugu State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Justice Attah Esq, read, “That you, Obi Levi Obieze, a.k.a Ozo Ezeani/E dey play e dey show (male), Sabastine Emeka Offor (male), Odinwamkpa Ejike (male), and others now at large, between the month of April, 2025 to 26th day of May, 2025, at about 1800hours at along Umuojo Road, Ishiagu Village, Umumba Ndiagu Community in Ezeagu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 495 (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.
“That you… and others now at large, on the same date, time, place, and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did use personal violence and kidnapped Ukamaka, female, aged 13 years, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 (2) of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, No. 14 of 2010.
“That you… and others now at large, on the same date, time, place, and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did use personal violence and kidnapped Chimaobi Ezi, male, aged 15 years, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 (2) of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, No. 14 of 2010.
“That you… and others now at large, on the same date, time, place, and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did use personal violence and kidnapped Joy Miracle Udokamma , female, aged 31 years, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 (2) of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, No. 14 of 2010.
“That you… on or before the 21st day of May, 2025, at Umuojo Road, Ishiagu Village, Umumba Ndiagu Community in Ezeagu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 494 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004.
“That you… on the same day, time, place, and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did unlawfully kill one Chimaobi Ezi, male, aged 15 years and thereby an offence punishable under Section 274 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge, following which the Magistrate ruled that the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, review their charges, and through the Enugu State Jurisdiction, recommend a higher court since Magistrate Courts had no jurisdiction to try such capital offences.
He adjourned the matter to 20th of August and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.
Recall that Obieze, alias “E dey play e dey show, was nabbed at the Badagry-Seme border area.Obieze, 40 years, a resident of Umuojo village in Isiagu community, and a known native doctor, on May 29, allegedly kidnapped a 13-year-old girl, Ukamaka Okoye, while walking with her father to the farm through three of his men.
She was subsequently rescued by the vigilantes in collaboration with the operatives of the Nigeria Police from a dungeon purportedly linked to Obieze and in the process, the remains of Udokamma and Ezi were found inside the pit.
Obieze was later apprehended by Custom Officers along Badagry-Seme expressway while trying to flee the country and subsequently brought to Enugu to face the law..
Author: Maureen Ikpeama
“