Justice for Deborah: Family demands answers over missing murder suspect, Lintex Ogale

The family of late Deborah Eneyi Ohekuru Okwori, an interior designer from Benue State, has raised serious concerns over the handling of her murder case after the prime suspect, Lintex Ogale, failed to appear in court without a clear explanation.

IDOMA VOICE recalls that Deborah, popularly known as Deb’rah Porsche, was brutally murdered on September 3, 2025, in her Lagos apartment.

Reports indicate that Lintex Ogale, her former boyfriend, stabbed her multiple times in the chest and back after tampering with the cooking gas pipe in an attempt to cause an explosion.

Neighbours discovered her in a pool of blood, and she was pronounced dead at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

Deborah’s relatives, who spoke to journalists after proceedings at the Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos, said they arrived early at the court on the scheduled hearing date, only to discover that the suspect was not produced and the case could not be heard.

“Neither the suspect, his lawyers nor any representative appeared in court, leading to the adjournment of our case,” the family said. Initial information provided in court suggested that Lintex Ogale’s absence was due to “security reasons.”

However, when pressed for clarification, the prosecutor reportedly admitted he was unaware of the exact reason.

Conflicting explanations later emerged from officials responsible for producing inmates in court. One official allegedly claimed the suspect had indicated he did not wish to attend court, while another explanation cited an error in the hearing date, suggesting a mix-up between January and July.

Adding to the family’s concerns, they later discovered at the Ikeja High Court that a notice had allegedly been filed indicating plans to apply for bail on behalf of the suspect.

“This is a murder case. How do you treat a murder case this way and fail to produce the suspect without a cogent reason?” a family member asked, expressing fear that the case may be deliberately frustrated.

The family has appealed to Nigerians, civil society groups, and human rights organisations to intervene and ensure that justice is served.

“We don’t have anybody. We are begging Nigerians to help us get justice for Deborah,” the family pleaded, calling for public attention and accountability in the case.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not issued an official statement clarifying the whereabouts of Lintex Ogale or the circumstances surrounding his absence from court.