Former Benue Customary Court President, Margaret Igbeta killed in Makurdi

Retired President of the Benue State Customary Court of Appeal, Margaret Igbeta has been killed in her residence on Wantor Kwange Street in Makurdi, Benue State.

The 72-year-old Igbeta was discovered lifeless and surrounded by a pool of blood on Thursday night. The assailants, yet to be identified, apparently carried out the gruesome act by spilling her blood throughout her home.

Based on the state of her body, it is suspected that the tragic incident might have taken place a day before her discovery.

Authorities have removed her body from her home, located opposite BSU College of Medicine along Gboko road in Makurdi. An anonymous police source mentioned, “Yes, it’s true. Yesterday, (Thursday) her lifeless body was discovered in her house but the corpse was not looking too good again meaning that it couldn’t have happened yesterday; may be a day before yesterday (Wednesday).”

Efforts are underway by the police to identify and apprehend the perpetrators, and family members are cooperating by providing crucial information.

Catherine Anene, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), responded to inquiries by stating, “Let me get to town and understand what happened.”

Born on October 17, 1950, Margaret Igbeta hailed from Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State. She had a distinguished legal career, beginning as a Pupil State Counsel in the Benue State Ministry of Justice in 1976. Eventually, she ascended to the position of a judge in 1995 and was appointed President of the Benue State Customary Court of Appeal in 2003, retiring on October 17, 2015, upon reaching the statutory age of 65.

It’s worth noting that in 2019, the Federal Government had filed an application to temporarily seize N840 million linked to Margaret Igbeta. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) alleged that the funds were connected to a proxy bank account operated by Igbeta’s maid.