On Monday, March 13, 2023, a Makurdi Magistrate’s Court remanded two students, Ugosor Japhet and Gwebe Ageba, on allegations of negligent homicide and armed theft.
The defendants were arrested after being charged with the murder of Erkaa Naomi Dooshima, a Benue State University student.
Mrs. Erdoo Ter, the Magistrate, did not accept the defendants’ plea for lack of jurisdiction.
She ruled that the suspects should remain in custody at Makurdi Correctional Center while further investigations into their crimes were conducted. Ter then postponed the matter until April 12, 2023, so that it could be discussed further.
According to Police Prosecutor Sgt. Regina Ishaya, who testified in court, the crime was reported on February 21, 2023, by one Erkaa Reuben of Logo II, Akpehe, Makurdi, at “E” Divisional Police Station, Makurdi.
Ishaya claimed that Ugosor Japhet had illegally obtained N150,000 from the complainant’s sister, Naomi Erkaa, as a rent deposit.
The funds, she claims, were deposited into the defendant’s Access Bank account.
According to the police counsel, after receiving the money, the defendant conspired with the second defendant and deceitfully enticed the victim to his home under the guise of handing her the apartment keys.
When the victim arrived at the home of the first defendant, she was assaulted with a cutlass and suffered severe wounds to her wrists, neck, and head, causing her to bleed to death, according to the witness.
The defendants then secretly relocated the deceased’s body, stripped her naked, buried her beneath a mass of yam tendrils, and dumped her cosmetic bag, Itel phone, and iPhone, the value of which was unknown.
During the course of the police investigation, the suspects were detained and confessed to committing the crime, she said.
Ter requested that the case be postponed until a later date so that it could be discussed, stating that the investigation into the matter was still ongoing.
She claims the crimes are in violation of Section 1(3) of the Advanced Fee Fraud and Other Related Offenses Act of 2006, Sections 97 and 222 of the Penal Code of Benue State Law of 2004, and Sections 1(1)(2)(a)(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act of 2004.
