The Benue State Police Command on Friday arraigned one Abunde Goja, 32, who allegedly killed his ex-wife’s lover.
Goja was charged with conspiracy, culpable homicide and membership of unlawful society before a Makurdi Upper Area Court.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Veronica Shaagee, said Goja attacked and killed Terdoo Shitov of Judges Quarters, Makurdi,
She said the murder occurred in the ex-wife’s father’s house.
Shaagee said Goja, a resident of Achusa, Makurdi, conspired with several others and attached Shitov with machete and acid.
She told the court that the case was transferred from B Division Police Station, Makurdi, to the state Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department on January 7.
She said: “While she (Goja’s ex-wife) was in her room with her boyfriend, Terdoo Shitov, in her father’s house, her ex-husband, Bunde Goja, conspired with his cult members now at large and attacked and ‘macheted’ Terdoo Shitov to death and also poured acid on his head.”
The prosecutor said the accused was arrested during police investigation and that he confessed to committing the crime.
She said a machete stained with blood, a plank, an axe, an acid rubber container and a blood-stained cloth were recovered from the scene of the crime.
Shaagee said investigation into the matter was still ongoing, requesting for adjournment to enable the police to complete it.
She said the offences contravened Section 97, 222 of the Penal Code, Law of Benue, 2004, and Section 11(2) of the Abduction, Hostage-Taking, Kidnapping, Secret Cult and Similar Activities Prohibition Law, 2017.
The court did not take the plea of the accused due to want of jurisdiction.
The Magistrate, Fatima Akintomide, ordered that Goja should be kept at the Federal Medium Prison, Makurdi and adjourned the case to February 15 for further mention.