A 54-year-old man named Eseni Chima was arraigned before an Abakaliki Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, facing allegations of murdering his wife, Ugochukwu, in a domestic violence incident.
Magistrate Chinedu Agama presided over the preliminary hearing, declining to take Mr. Chima’s plea due to the court’s limited jurisdictional powers.
The magistrate promptly directed law enforcement to forward the case file to the Director of Public Prosecution for comprehensive legal guidance.
Prosecutor Emmanuel Monday presented detailed evidence surrounding the alleged murder, revealing that the tragic incident occurred on September 4 at 60 Ogbaga Road, Kpirikpiri, within Abakaliki Local Government of Ebonyi State.
According to the prosecution’s account, Mr. Chima allegedly brutally attacked his wife using iron rods, ultimately causing her death.
The prosecution formally cited Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 33, Vol 1, Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009, as the legal basis for the murder charges against the defendant.
Defence counsel Daniel Onuoha’s request for bail was summarily rejected, consistent with the court’s determination that it lacks appropriate jurisdiction to make such a determination at this stage of the legal proceedings.
Magistrate Agama scheduled the next hearing for December 31, setting the stage for further legal examination of the case.