Crime

Court Remands Teenager Who Set Boyfriend Ablaze in Benue

By Obiajulu Joel Nwolu

January 20, 2021

The police on Tuesday, arraigned the 17-year-old girl, identified as Esther Alex, who allegedly set her lover ablaze before the Magistrates’ Court 8.

The court is located at North Bank, Markurdi.

It was gathered through the First Information Report, FIR, that nee Esther Alex of  No. 1 Zaki Biam Street, Wadata, Makurdi, went to the house of Mr Chidimma Omah, 28, at No 17 Yandev Street, Makurdi, and poured petrol on the house, while he was asleep, and set it ablaze.

The FIR titled: ‘Mischief by fire and culpable homicide’, said, “As a result, the room was engulfed in fire, which burnt down the entire property, whose value is not yet known, together with Mr Chidimma Omah, who sustained grave burns and subsequently died while receiving treatment at the hospital.”

According to Inspector Dominic Ochaba, the prosecutor, who asked that the accused be remanded in a correctional centre, the investigation into the matter was still ongoing.

Counsel for the accused, S. O. Obekpa, did not object to the prosecutor’s prayer but drew the attention of the court to the FIR.

Obekpa said there was no objection to the prosecutor’s prayer, but the place and manner the fuel was kept.

Ruling on the ruling, the magistrate, Regina Ochokwunu, ordered that the accused be remanded in a correctional centre and adjourned the case till March, 5, 2021.