Benue: Court remands teenager who set boyfriend ablaze

The police in Benue State, on Tuesday, arraigned the 17-year-old girl, Esther Alex, who allegedly set her boyfriend ablaze.

The suspect was arraigned before the Magistrates’ Court 8 located at North Bank, Makurdi.

According to the First Information Report titled: ‘Mischief by fire and culpable homicide’, nee Esther Alex of  No. 1 Zaki Biam Street, Wadata, Makurdi, went to the house of Mr Chidimma Omah, 28, at No 17 Yandev Street, Makurdi, and poured petrol on the house, while he was asleep, and set it ablaze.

“As a result, the room was engulfed in fire, which burnt down the entire property, whose value is not yet known, together with Mr Chidimma Omah, who sustained grave burns and subsequently died while receiving treatment at the hospital,” the FIR stated in part.

The prosecutor, Inspector Dominic Ochaba, who asked that the accused be remanded in a correctional centre, said investigation into the matter was still ongoing.

Counsel for the accused, S. O. Obekpa, did not object to the prosecutor’s prayer, but drew the attention of the court to the FIR.

The lawyer said there was no objection to the prosecutor’s prayer, but the place and manner the fuel was kept.

The counsel requested for an oral application to be made in respect of the FIR, but it was declined by the magistrate.

The magistrate, Regina Ochokwunu, ordered that the accused be remanded in a correctional centre and adjourned the case till March, 5, 2021.