[News] Court remands student who killed Benue varsity lecturer

A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Makurdi on Wednesday, ordered that Jeremiah Nnamdi, a student of the Federal University of Agriculture (UAM) remanded in a correctional centre for killing a lecturer, Dr. Karl Kwaghger,

It will be recalled that Dr. Kwaghger, an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering department of same institution, was murdered at the premises of the JS Tarka Foundation in Makurdi on Saturday, November 28, 2020.

The suspect confessed to the crime and further stated that his initial intention was to threaten the victim with a make believe gun and rob him of his car but he ended up killing him because he resisted. Read HERE and HERE

The police charged Jeremiah with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and culpable homicide punishable under sections 6(b), 1(1)(2)(a)(b) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, 2004 and 222 of the Penal Code Laws of Benue, 2004.

When the case was mentioned, Chief Magistrate Vincent Kor, did not take the plea of Nnamdi for want of jurisdiction.

Kor ordered that the defendant be remanded in Correctional Service Centre, Makurdi. He also ordered the police to return the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

He adjourned the matter until April 5, 2021 for further mention.

Earlier, the prosecution counsel, Sgt Friday Kanshio told the court that Mr Victor Hemba, the Managing Director of JS Tarkaa Foundation, Makurdi reported the case at the ‘B’ Division Police Station, Makurdi on Nov. 28, 2020.

He told the court that the security supervisor discovered a corpse by the gate of the foundation.

He said that the corpse was that of Dr Karl Kwagher, a lecturer at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

The prosecution said during investigation, Nnamdi, was arrested in Abuja where he went to sell the car stolen from the deceased.

He added that Nnamdi confessed to the crime and told police detectives that his initial intention was to threaten the victim with a make-believe gun and rob him of his Toyota Venza with registration number RSH 746 NY.

He said Nnamdi confessed that he committed the crime along with Osinachi Michael,  who is at large.