Suspects Accused Of Forcing Widows To Drink Deceased’s Body Part Concoction, Beating Them With Machetes Remanded

The accused also administered the same justice on another man. The suspects — Egwuonwu Jonah, Sunday Obasi, Ogonnaya Eze, Godwin Nwokoro-Obi, and others at large — were arraigned on 10-count charges bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder/acts intended to cause grievous harm, and armed robbery.

They were accused of forcing two widows, Nnenna Donatus Nwinyinya and another victim, to drink water used in washing the private parts and armpits of a deceased person, Innocent Simon, which they blended with native kola nut and gave the widows to drink.

The offence is punishable under Section 208 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. 33 Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

The suspects were said to have attempted to kill the victims at Mebi-Okpa, Okposi, Ohaozara LGA of the State, by beating them with sticks, bottles, machetes, etc., and parading them half-naked around the community barefooted.

The suspects were also accused of willfully and unlawfully destroying five Alumaco windows, two iron doors, one wooden door, among other properties belonging to Nnenna Donatus Nwinyinya, with the value yet to be estimated.

“That the accused and others now at large, on the same date and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did willfully and unlawfully destroy chairs, beds, plates, pots, three houses, cartons of beer, among others, and burnt one Hajous Suzuki motorcycle, value yet to be estimated, property of one Jonah Chuku, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. 33 Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.

“That the accused and others now at large, on the same date and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did unlawfully direct, control, and preside at the trial by ordeal of one Nnenna Donatus Nwinyinya (f) and Jonah Chuku (m) by accusing them of killing one Innocent Simon and subjecting/forcing them to drink the water used in washing the armpit of the deceased, got congealed mucus from his nose, ground into a concoction with native kola nut, and thereby committed an offence under Section 208 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap. 33 Vol. 1 Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria, 2009.”

The presiding magistrate, Nnenna Ogodo, after diligent consideration of the 10-count charges, declined jurisdiction over the case and ordered that the accused be remanded at the Abakaliki Correctional Centre.

She adjourned the case to May 9, 2025, for compliance by the office of the State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).