A Chief Magistrate Court in Onitsha, Anambra State, has granted bail set at N500,000 to a 54-year-old widow, Mrs. Perpetua Nwagbo, and her brother-in-law, Michael Nwagbo, who are facing trial for allegedly conspiring to commit burglary and other related charges.
The defendants, from Umunachi village, Osuama autonomous community in Imo State, are accused of conspiring in 2020 to break into a property at Plot No. 288 Trans-Nkisi Layout, Onitsha, allegedly owned by Mr. Obiora Ezeakabekwe. The charges, which include unlawful entry and giving false information to the police, are punishable under various sections of the Criminal Code Law of Anambra State.
Mrs. Nwagbo and her brother-in-law have denied the allegations, asserting that the accusations are part of a broader attempt to deprive her of her late husband’s property. The case has been adjourned to October 22 for the continuation of the trial.
Sylvia Iwejor, the leader of the defense team, criticized the charges as baseless and expressed concern over the stringent bail conditions imposed on the defendants. Meanwhile, Marjorie Ezihe, Convener of the NGO Ônurube, which advocates against gender-based violence in Southeast Nigeria, revealed that Mrs. Nwagbo had been unlawfully detained in Imo State before her appearance in court. She accused certain individuals of using the police to intimidate and harass the widow.
In a petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), the NGO called for justice, alleging that Mrs. Nwagbo had been wrongfully targeted in an effort to seize her late husband’s property. The petition detailed how Mrs. Nwagbo had been “abducted” from her shop in Imo State by men claiming to be police officers, and later found in a distressed state at a police facility. It also alleged that false documents were presented to declare her dead in an attempt to take control of her late husband’s estate.
The NGO is urging the IGP to investigate the police officers involved in the widow’s harassment and ensure that justice prevails in the case.
