A Grade I Area Court in Nyanya, Abuja has ordered that Joseph Utum, a 2nd defendant in the charges of alleged attempted murder of Mr. Robinson Uwak, be remanded in Keffi Correctional Centre.
Uwak formerly represented Oron/Okobo/Mbo/Udung Uko/Urue Offong-Oruko Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.
Justice M. Inuwa gave the order after Utum was arraigned by the police, but he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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Utum was accused of conspiring with the estranged wife of the ex-lawmaker, Kezia Robinson Uwak, formerly Kezia Irek, to eliminate him.
The Inspector-General of Police on December 16 arraigned Kezia Robinson Uwak and Ibiang Yemiode Ofem, without Utum, before the court on charges of joint act and attempt to commit grievous bodily harm on the ex-lawmaker.
Kezia and Ofem, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, were remanded in Suleja and Keffi Correctional Centres respectively.
The police in the F.I.R said the defendants were arrested for agreeing “to do away” with Uwak to enable Kezia to convert and inherit his valuable property worth millions of naira in FCT, Port Harcourt and Uyo.
The police alleged that in furtherance of the agreement, Kezia on May 27 took a kitchen knife to stab Uwak, while he was asleep, adding that if she had succeeded to stab him, “it would have resulted in his death or bodily harm.
“All these were done pursuant to your agreement. And you thereby committed the above offence,” the charge read in part.
The police further said the alleged offences were contrary to Sections 95, 79 and 248 of the Penal Code.
Justice Inuwa adjourned the matter until Feb. 7 for trial. (NAN)
According to the police First Information Report, the defendants were arrested for agreeing to do away with Mr Uwak to enable Ms Kaizia convert and inherit his valuable properties worth millions of naira in FCT, Port Harcourt and Uyo.
The police alleged that in furtherance of the agreement, Ms Kazia on May 27 took a kitchen knife to stab Mr Uwak, while he was asleep.
The security agency said that if she had succeeded to stab Mr Uwak, “It would have resulted in his death or bodily harm.
“All these were done pursuant to your agreement. And you thereby committed the above offence.”
The matter was adjourned until December 29 for commencement of trial.
Genesis of marital crisis
Uwak had accused Hon Benjamin Kalu of dating his former staff, Mrs Kezia Uwak in 2017 in what you could be called a whirlwind office affair.
According to him, the affair between Hon. Benjamin Kalu, a married man with 6 children, lasted until Mrs Kezia Uwak got married to Hon. Robinson Uwak in 2020.
‘‘Despite Mrs Kezia Uwak being a married woman, Hon Benjamin Kalu, continued his illicit affair with Mrs Kezia Uwak.
‘‘Hon Benjamin Kalu will book hotel rooms, inviting Mrs Kezia Uwak to hotels to sleep with her.
‘‘Things went sour when Hon. ROBINSON UWAK — Kezia’s husband — got wind of the affair between his wife and Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
‘‘When confronted about the allegations of cheating, Mrs Kezia Uwak promptly connived with her boyfriend Hon. Benjamin Kalu to abscond with the couple’s one-year-old twins.
‘‘Hon. Benjamin Kalu booked and paid for a hotel room for two days where he kept Mrs Kezia Uwak and Hon Robinson Uwak’s children.
‘‘Despite all this, Hon. Robinson refused to banter with his wife who is currently being funded by Hon Benjamin Kalu to tarnish his image on social media.
‘‘There are many receipts to prove this affair and intimidation from Hon. Benjamin Kalu,’’ he alleged.
(NAN)