Court orders remand of Benue man who allegedly killed his wife

A Makurdi Chief Magistrate’s Court has issued an order to remand Matthew Bem, a 42-year-old farmer residing in Korinya Settlement, Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue, in a correctional center in Makurdi.

He is facing charges of culpable homicide in the alleged killing of his wife, Mngusonum Bem.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. T.K. Atta, refrained from taking the defendant’s plea due to a jurisdictional issue.

The case has been adjourned until December 20, 2023, for further mention.

According to Prosecution Counsel, Insp Godwin Ato, the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Tse-Agberagba, on October 26, 2023, via a letter dated the same day.

The letter conveyed that on October 24, 2023, a report was received from the officer-in-charge of Korinya Police Station, indicating that a man had killed his wife.

As per the letter, on that tragic day, the defendant engaged in a fight with his 30-year-old wife. During the altercation, he allegedly picked up a knife and fatally stabbed her on the spot.

The prosecutor informed the court that the defendant was apprehended during a police investigation, and he voluntarily confessed to the crime.

The offense is in violation of section 222 of the penal code law of Benue, 2004.