The Enugu State Police Command on Wednesday arraigned Obi Levi Obieze, popularly known as “E dey play e dey show,” alongside two other suspects, Sebastine Emeka Offor and Odinwamkpa Ejike, on a seven-count charge bordering on serial kidnappings and ritual killings that rocked the Umumba Ndiagu community in Ezeagu Local Government Area.
The trio was arraigned before His Worship, Osondu Chukwuani, at Court 1, Enugu North Magistrate Court, Enugu. The case, which has attracted widespread public attention, underscores the state’s intensifying clampdown on violent crimes under the administration of Governor Peter Mbah.
According to the charge sheet marked MEN/473c/2025 and signed by Superintendent of Police Justice Attah Esq., who is also the Head of the Legal Team, Enugu State Police Command, the suspects, along with others still at large, were accused of conspiracy to kidnap and commit murder between April and May 2025.
The charge read in part: “That you, Obi Levi Obieze, a.k.a Ozo Ezeani/E dey play e dey show (male), Sabastine Emeka Offor (male), Odinwamkpa Ejike (male), and others now at large, between the month of April, 2025 to 26th day of May, 2025… did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 495 (a) of the Criminal Code…”
The suspects were specifically accused of kidnapping Ukamaka, a 13-year-old girl; Chimaobi Ezi, a 15-year-old boy; and Joy Miracle Udokamma, a 31-year-old woman. Furthermore, Obieze and his co-accused were charged with the murder of both Chimaobi Ezi and Joy Miracle Udokamma.
The charge continued: “That you… did unlawfully kill one Chimaobi Ezi, male, aged 15 years and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 274 (1)… That you… did unlawfully kill one Joy Miracle Udokamma, female, aged 31 years and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 274 (1) of the Criminal Code…”
Obieze was apprehended earlier this year at the Badagry-Seme border while allegedly trying to flee the country. His arrest was the result of a coordinated effort involving the police, Nigeria Immigration Service, and other security agencies.
Following their arraignment, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges. Magistrate Chukwuani, noting that the Magistrate Court lacks jurisdiction to hear capital offences, ordered that the case be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for review and proper filing in a higher court. The matter was adjourned to August 20, 2025, while the suspects were remanded in prison custody.
The prosecution and arraignment of the suspects align with Governor Peter Mbah’s zero-tolerance stance on criminality. Earlier in May, the Enugu State Government demolished Levi Obieze’s country home in accordance with state laws linking properties to kidnapping.
In June, Governor Mbah also forwarded an Executive Bill titled *“Maintenance of Internal Security, Vigilance and Order”* to the Enugu State House of Assembly. The bill seeks to clamp down on the activities of native doctors and herbalists suspected of aiding criminality. It also prohibits ritual killings, popularly called “okite,” and the use of bulletproof charms, known locally as “odeshi.”
Observers have described the developments as a strong signal from the Mbah administration that heinous crimes will not go unpunished in Enugu State.
