A Chief Magistrate’s Court in Port Harcourt on Monday remanded a pastor, Chidiebere Okoroafor, in custody, for allegedly killing three persons, including his pregnant girlfriend, in the Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The police had earlier arrested and detained the 32-year-old cleric, who is the founder of Altar of Solution Church in Oyigbo, for the alleged murder of 25-year-old Uluoma Onweagba, Concilia Ezenwa and 11-month-old Christabel Joseph, on December 11, 2017.
It was alleged that the pastor embarked on the killings in order to conceal his amorous relationship with Onweagba, whom he reportedly impregnated, even as the police said it was in the process of resolving the pregnancy issue that the three persons were murdered.
Though Okoroafor, who was brought to court around 10.45am, did not take his plea based on the gravity of the offences.
He told the court that he strangled Ezenwa and pushed his pregnant girlfriend, who died after falling on the ground.
The suspect, who is facing three counts bordering on murder, also explained that he took away the child that was strapped at the back of the pregnant victim and dumped him in the bush.
The charge against him, in suit number PMC/456C/2018, read, “That you, Pastor Chidiebere Okoroafor, on December 11, 2017, at Izuoma community, Oyigbo, within the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did murder one Ada Concilia Ezenwa by strangling her, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap. 37 Vol. II, Law of Rivers State, Nigeria, 1999.
“That you, Pastor Chidiebere Okoroafor, on December 11, 2017, at Egberu village, Afam, within the Port Harcourt Magisterial District, did murder one Uluoma Onweagba by strangling her, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. II, Law of Rivers State, Nigeria, 1999.
“That you, Pastor Chidebere Okoroafor, on the same date, time and place, in the aforesaid magisterial district, did murder one Christabel Joseph Ezenwa, a child of 11 months old, by pushing her off from the back of Uluoma Onweagba to the ground where she broke her skull which caused her death, thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. II Law of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.”
The Chief Magistrate, Kariba Braide, directed that Okoroafor should be remanded in custody.
Braide instructed the prosecution to send the case file to the High Court and adjourned the matter for mention till March 27, 2018.
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