…Enuugu Government Vows Swift Justice
A 46-year-old man, Livinus Okoh, has been arraigned before the Magistrate Court sitting in Enugu for allegedly killing his wife, Mrs. Onyinyechi Okoh, in Amuri, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The suspect was brought before Magistrate Uche Jideofor at Court 3 of the Enugu East Magisterial District in the case titled Commissioner of Police vs. Livinus Aniegbunam Okoh (Charge No. CME/821C/2025). The prosecution was led by C.O. Ugwu Esq. and A.C. Amalu Esq.
According to the charge sheet, the accused person on October 8, 2025, at about 4:00 a.m., allegedly attacked his wife with an axe, hitting her on the lower jaw, which led to her death.
The charge read:
“That you, Livinus Aniegbunam Okoh ‘m’, on the 8th day of October, 2025, at about 0400 hours, at Umuedum Amuri in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did unlawfully kill one Onyinye Okoh ‘f’, aged 46 years, by hitting her with an axe on her lower jaw, which led to her death and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 274 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria.”
The accused did not take a plea as the Magistrate held that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter. He was subsequently remanded at the Enugu Correctional Centre pending legal advice from the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Magistrate Jideofor directed that the case file be transferred to the Enugu State Ministry of Justice for further review and adjourned the matter to December 17, 2025.
Reacting to the development, the Enugu State Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs, and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, condemned the killing and described it as “a grievous act that must not go unpunished.”
“The murder of Mrs. Okoh is both tragic and unacceptable. The Ministry is monitoring the case closely to ensure that justice is served in accordance with the law,” she said.
Mrs. Enih reaffirmed the state government’s zero-tolerance policy for domestic violence and urged residents to report all forms of abuse to relevant authorities.
“We must all speak up against gender-based violence. Silence only empowers the perpetrators,” she added.
The case has continued to generate strong reactions from the public, with many calling for a speedy trial and maximum penalty for the suspect if found guilty.
