Suspected killers of Jumia delivery agent remanded in prison

Punch reports that the two suspects, Sodienye Mbatumukeke and Excel Divine Naabe, had allegedly murdered the Ebonyi State-born Eleje when he went to deliver some iPhones Mbatumukeke, whose father is a very influential lawyer in the state on March 25, 2017.

After allegedly killing the delivery man, the suspects were said to have thrown his body into a septic tank.

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Their cover was blown when some neighbours noticed the strange movements of the suspects and reported to the police who moved in and arrested them before retrieving the decomposing body of the victim.

The suspects were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Amadi Amadi-Nna on three counts according to charge number PMC/697C/2017.

The charges read:

“That you, Sodienye Mbatumukeke, on March 25, 2017, on Ada-Ede Street, Shell Location, Mgbuoba, Port Harcourt, in the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did use a pestle to hit the head of one Eleje Chukwuma, and robbed him of one Infinix Note 3 handset valued at N67,000, one IM-10 desktop GSM phone dual SIM, valued at N9,500, and one Gionee M6 phone, valued at N105,000; all valued at N181,000.00, property of Jumia Online Shopping Company, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 1 (2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

That you, Sodienye Mbatumukeke and Excel Divine Naabe, on the same date and place, in the aforementioned magisterial district, did conspire among yourselves to commit a felony, to wit: murder, thereby committing an offense punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.

That you, Sodienye Mbatumukeke and Excel Divine Naabe, on the same date and place in the aforesaid magisterial district, did murder one Eleje Chukwuma, by hitting him on the head with a pestle and subsequently suffocated him by covering his head with a polyethene bag, before tying him with a wire, which caused his death, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. II Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”

It was gathered that the accused were arraigned by a state prosecutor, Inspector Jonas Rufus, while they appeared without any defense counsel.

The third accused, Joy Eluwa, said to be Mbatumukeke girlfriend, was not part of the arraignment on Monday, April 10 at the court.

It was learned that when the case was mentioned in the court, Magistrate Amadi-Nna stated that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter as a result of the gravity of the offense.

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Before pronouncing that the accused be remanded in prison custody, the magistrate ordered that the case file should be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice, before adjourning the matter indefinitely, adding that the suspects could seek bail at the state High Court.