By Tony Adibe
The Homicide Section of the State Criminal and Investigation Department of the Enugu State Police Command has been advised to visit the scene of the crime involving the alleged “beating to death of 9-year-old Precious Korshima by Mrs. Ujunwa Ugwuoke and subsequent dumping of her corpse in the bush.” Such visit is to ensure that no stone is left unturned in the course of investigation.
The President of Enugu-based human rights group, the Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network (CRRAN), Olu Omotayo Esq., who gave the advice, said the advice became necessary in view of the fact that the police said they were ready to charge the matter to court.
In a statement issued in Enugu and made available to NewsBits, Omotayo observed that there was a need for the police detectives handling the case to visit the scene of the crime – the residence of Mrs. Ujunwa Ugwuoke at Fidelity Estate by the Ebeano Tunnel Crossing within the Enugu metropolis as such a visit could help in their investigation.
Omotayo stated: “Another very important point raised by Mr. James Korshima is the non visit of the Police to the “scene of crime”. We submit that the Police suppose to visit the scene of crime which is the home of Ugwuokes’ at Fidelity Estate because that is the place where the child was killed, and further clues can be obtained thereat.”
In the statement entitled, “Human Rights Update: Appeal For Thorough Investigation; Re: Beating To Death Of 9-Year-Old Precious Korshima By Mrs. Ujunwa Ugwuoke And Subsequent Dumping Of Her Corpse In The Bush”, Omotayo recalled that the human rights defender had earlier written a petition dated 23rd December, 2022, to the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State concerning the above matter on behalf of “Mr. James Achikpi Korshima alias Jerry B from Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State, over the death of his 9 year old daughter Precious korshima who was beaten to death.”
Although CRAAN lauded the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmad Ammani for ordering immediate transfer of the case to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal and Investigation Department for proper and thorough investigation, it insisted that the investigation ought to be very thorough and professionally done.
NewsBits recalls that in the first petition which Omotayo equally copied to the Inspector General of Police, (IGP), Usman Akali Baba, and the Enugu State Governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the rights body claimed that the suspect, Mrs. Ugwuoke subsequently dumped Precious Korshima’s remains in a bush somewhere after the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, at Ituku-Ozalla, in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.
However, NewsBits learnt that the Fidelity Estate where the incident was said to have occurred is located on the right side immediately after the Ebeano Tunnel Crossing assuming one is driving from the Old Artisan Market within the Enugu metropolis. But the area where the corpse of Precious was said to have been dumped was in far away Ituku-Ozalla, after the security checkpoint, somewhere after the UNTH, Enugu. The distance is about 30 minutes drive from Fidelity Estate, if there is no traffic hold-up.
The CRAAN latest statement read: “Korshima said during the course of the investigation Ujunwa Ugwuoke took him and the Police investigators to Ituku community where he dumped the corpse before it was burnt on the order of the Igwe by the youths.
“Korshima further said he and the Police investigators, and a medical expert later went back to recover the bones so that the medical expert can confirm whether the bones are actually that of human being/his child. Korshima said his main problem now is that he has no means to provide the N100,000 thousand Naira needed to be paid to conduct the test on the bones, as the husband of the suspect who earlier agreed to pay later declined and said he can only provide N50, 000 Naira only.
“The confirmation of whether the bones are that of human being or not, are vital to a successful investigation and we submit that it is the duty of the Government to provide fund for this type of medical examination in a criminal trial. We therefore appeal to the state government /or well-meaning Nigerians to assist and ensure justice for the family of the deceased.
“Though it is good as Police told Mr. Korshima that they are ready to charge the matter to Court, but it will be untidy if the medical examination on the bones are not conducted so that Korshima who appealed that the bones be given to him to go and conduct burial of his child. Another very important point raised by Korshima is the non visit of the Police to the “scene of crime.”
