An Izzi High Court in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, has sentenced a 30-year-old man to death by hanging for the murder of an 18-year-old SS2 student after the victim disclosed their sexual relationship, which led to health complications.

The convict, Boniface Abraham Edigbo, was found guilty of killing Ogbonna Joshua on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, by poisoning him in a hotel after they had a final sexual encounter on the night of Monday, May 22, 2023.

Until his death, Joshua was a student of Community Secondary School, Amachi, located in Izzi Local Government Area.

Edigbo received the death sentence by hanging on Friday.

He had been in a relationship with Joshua since 2021.

In 2023, they both agreed to keep the relationship secret.

However, after Joshua began experiencing health issues, he reported the matter to his school principal and some students, which led to public awareness.

Edigbo then convinced Joshua to meet him at Edigbo Guest House, where they spent the night of May 22 together.

According to The Punch, on the morning of May 23, Edigbo gave Joshua a mixture of Fanta and insecticide, which he consumed and died.

Following Joshua’s death, Edigbo left the hotel and informed a woman about what happened, stating that he didn’t mean to kill the boy but was upset that their relationship had been exposed.

The woman asked him to wait while she claimed she was getting money for him to flee, but instead she reported the case to the local youths. They apprehended Edigbo and took him back to the hotel, where Joshua’s body was discovered in Room 006.

Justice Ruth Okeh, who presided over the case, found Edigbo guilty and issued the death sentence.

Prosecuting counsel, Mrs Ijeoma Mike-Aja Nwachukwu, praised the ruling.

She said the verdict would discourage others from committing similar grave offences in the society.

President Bola Tinubu has instructed security agencies to apprehend those responsible for the continuous killings in Benue state.

He also called on political and community figures to steer clear of comments that could escalate the situation.

On June 14, suspected herdsmen reportedly killed over 100 people in Yelewata and Daudu communities, located in Guma LGA of Benue state.

By Sunday, the number of casualties had allegedly climbed to 200.

This incident occurred less than two days after 25 people were killed in Mtswenem and Akondotyough Bawa communities in Makurdi LGA.

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, Tinubu condemned the attacks as “inhuman and anti-progress”.

He stated that “the latest news of wanton killings in Benue State is very depressing. We must not allow this bloodletting to continue unabated. Enough is now enough.”

Tinubu reaffirmed his earlier instructions to the nation’s security heads.

Following the president’s orders, intelligence leaders, police forces, and military personnel have moved into the state to take charge of operations and restore order, Onanuga said.

Tinubu further appealed to political and community leaders in affected areas to stop inciting violence with “unguarded utterances and rein in those who go out to cause provocations and ignite reprisal attacks”.

He emphasized, “I have directed the security agencies to act decisively and arrest perpetrators of these evil acts on all sides of the conflict and prosecute them.”

He added that political and community figures in Benue must act with responsibility and refrain from inflammatory remarks that could worsen the violence.

He urged Governor Alia to “act as a statesman” and promptly initiate dialogue and reconciliation efforts to restore peace in the state.

He concluded that Nigerians “must live in peace”, which is achievable when leaders collaborate across divides and address conflicts with “fairness, openness and justice”.

The Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal has set aside the final forfeiture order granted to the Federal Government over properties linked to former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The decision, which came through a “two-to-one” majority on April 9, 2025, was confirmed in a certified true copy obtained on Sunday. The appellate court nullified the initial judgment and directed a fresh hearing at the lower court.

Previously, the Federal High Court in Lagos had, on November 1, 2024, approved the request of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the final forfeiture of Emefiele’s assets.

The affected properties included two detached duplexes at No. 17B Hakeem Odumosu Street, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos; an undeveloped land measuring 1,919.592 square metres at Oyinkan Abayomi Drive (formerly Queens Drive), Ikoyi, Lagos, with survey plan No. DS/LS.340; a bungalow at No. 65A Oyinkan Abayomi Drive, Ikoyi; and a four-bedroom duplex at No. 12A Probyn Road, Ikoyi.

Additional assets included an industrial complex being constructed on 22 plots in Agbor, Delta State; eight incomplete apartments on a 2,457.60 square metre plot at No. 8A Adekunle Lawal Road, Ikoyi; and a detached duplex on 2,217.87 square metres at No. 2A Bank Road, Ikoyi.

Also forfeited were “$2,045,000” and share certificates in “Queensdorf Global Fund Limited.”

According to the EFCC, the properties were suspected to have been acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Emefiele, through his legal team led by Olalekan Ojo (SAN), filed an appeal in case number “CA/LAG/CV/1051/24”, naming the EFCC as the sole respondent.

The appeal raised five questions, including whether the trial judge evaluated all affidavit evidence before granting the forfeiture, and whether the judge failed to recognise the appellant’s interest in the assets.

It also questioned the dismissal of Emefiele’s motion to stay proceedings in civil and criminal cases, the propriety of allowing the EFCC’s counter-affidavit under Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud Act, and the trial court’s refusal to consider jurisdiction issues.

EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) countered that the “appellant did not produce single evidence on how He acquired the forfeited properties” and only referenced his earnings from Zenith Bank and the Central Bank without explaining how those funds were used.

Oyedepo argued that no property was registered in Emefiele’s name, but rather in various company names where he was neither a shareholder nor director. He said none of those companies contested the forfeiture and that Emefiele failed to declare the properties to the Code of Conduct Bureau.

In his lead judgment, Justice Abdulazeez Anka said he was convinced the assets could be covered by Emefiele’s “legitimate earnings.”

He referenced claims that Emefiele received over “1,750,000,000” as severance from Zenith Bank, held shares worth “500,000,000”, earned “N350,000,000” annually as CBN governor, received “N75m” quarterly reimbursements, and obtained “$6,285,000” in estacodes at “$5,000” per day.

Justice Anka stated that the conflicting accounts around the properties warranted live testimony and cross-examination. He ruled that the trial should proceed by oral evidence so that witnesses could be examined.

He therefore nullified the forfeiture ruling of November 1, 2024, while affirming the final forfeiture of “$2,045,000” to the Federal Government. He also ordered a retrial.

Justice Mohammed Mustapha concurred, agreeing with Justice Anka’s conclusions. He observed that Emefiele’s income could cover the asset purchases and that declaring 2014 and 2019 assets could not account for acquisitions made between 2020 and 2023.

He argued that “the criminal action ought to be disposed of before the civil one” and supported a retrial by a different judge.

However, Justice Danlami Senchi disagreed. He said the affidavits presented did not conflict and did not justify oral testimony.

According to him, the companies used to acquire the properties had not denied ownership, and Emefiele himself distanced from them, meaning he could not make claims on the assets.

He concluded that oral testimony would waste judicial resources and upheld the original ruling. He dismissed the appeal as lacking merit and affirmed the judgment delivered by Justice D. I. Dipeolu on November 1, 2024.