Businessman relives ordeal after mysterious disappearance of wife, three children – Newstrends
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Businessman relives ordeal after mysterious disappearance of wife, three children

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2 years ago

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John Ohiri

John Ohiri, an indigene of Agbaji in Nwangele Local Government Area, Imo State and successful spare parts dealer based in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has been in distress since November 19 last year. His life took a pathetic twist when he returned from work on that fateful day and discovered that his wife and three children were nowhere in sight.

Ohiri had found it very strange that none of his children ran out of their Number 5 Ada George apartment to welcome him as they were wont to. His wife Stella, his first daughter Miracle, his only son Joshua and his last daughter Deborah were all nowhere to be found and the house was unusually quiet.

Where could they be? Ohiri wondered. He called the phone number of Stella’s sister, Onyinyechi, to know whether they were at her place, but she answered in the negative. An incident that started like a joke soon turned into a sorrowful reality, and since then, Ohiri has searched in vain for his family members.

Narrating his ordeal, Ohiri said: “On November 19, a Friday, I gave my wife money to prepare soup as I was going to work. I went to the shop but when I came back, I didn’t see my wife and my kids.

“I called Onyinyechi to know whether my wife and kids were at their place but she said no. I called my elder brother, who lives along Iwofe, but he said my wife and kids were not there. I also called my elder sister in the village and my in-laws in the village but they all said they never saw my family. I reported to my pastor.”

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Ohiri said the next day, a Saturday, he returned from his shop to discover that his wife came and took a few of her belongings, including a travelling bag, using the spare key to their apartment and later bolted away.

“But I didn’t know where she went to. I was running up and down to have a clue of where she could have gone to.

“On Sunday morning, I decided to pay a surprise visit to Onyinyechi to know whether she was saying the truth.”

Ohiri said on his way to Onyinyechi’s place, he saw his neighbour, Victor, who told him that he saw the wife when she came to take a few of her belongings including a travelling bag. Victor also claimed that he did not know the whereabouts of the woman.

He said all the efforts he had made to locate his wife had proved abortive as her phones were switched off. Ohiri has reported the matter at Ada George Police Station.

The visibly traumatised Ohiri, who broke down in tears, said Onyinyechi invited some of her in-laws, who came and was told about the development. But instead of joining him to search for their daughter, Ohiri’s in-laws dealt him a deadly blow. They accused him of killing their daughter and his three children for ritual purposes. The man among them insisted that Ohiri killed them to enable him purchase his exotic Toyota Venza car.

They did not stop at mere allegation; they reported to the police and entered a statement against Ohiri. The police arrested the devastated father and took him to their station. In the presence of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), the in-laws repeated the allegation and one of them gave him a dirty slap before the DPO. “This was the most devastating part of my ordeal. It compounded my headache and made me shed tears. I couldn’t believe that my in-laws could fabricate such lies against me. But the DPO did not believe them.

“Their brother said I killed my wife and my children to enable me buy a Toyota Venza car. The brother stood up and slapped me in the presence of the DPO. But the DPO held and detained him.

“They wanted to detain me but I resisted it and informed them that I made an entry a day before that day. They said I should show proof of the entry.

“I called the policeman who took my statement. He came and confirmed that I made such entry. But the policeman said he could not process the statement because he was ill.

“They still detained me for two days. The DPO still called me and asked me to explain what happened. I still explained everything.

“He told my in-laws that it was impossible for me to kill four people without any trace. He called for my release. My in-laws were still anxious to get me detained.”

The police immediately commenced investigations into the whereabouts of Ohiri’s wife and his three children. They asked Ohiri to invite his neighbour, Victor, to come and write a statement but Victor declined. Ohiri said he was asked to pay N250,000 to track his wife’s phone.

He said the police discovered that a particular number called his wife 26 times. But when the police called the number, the woman who picked it claimed that her husband used the phone to make the calls.

He said: “They asked the woman why she made 26 calls to my wife’s number. The woman said the calls were all made by her husband. She said she didn’t know the whereabouts of her husband. The police held the woman.

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“I went home and changed the padlocks to my apartment. I didn’t go anywhere. I stayed at home to know whether my wife would come and pick other things. I heard a noise. I came out and discovered that a Hausa man was opening Victor’s apartment.

“I asked how he got the keys. He said Victor and his friends were in a tinted vehicle on Ikwere Road, wound up. He said Victor gave him a phone for communication and asked him to get him a few things.

“I told my other neighbour Samuel to hold the Hausa man for me so I could go to the police station and report the development.

“The police prepped the Hausa man and asked him to lead two policewomen to where Victor was waiting for him. Three of John’s in-laws also joined the team while Victor was asked to stay back at the station since he could easily be recognised by Victor.”

Ohiri further observed that though his rent had not expired, Victor had secretly moved most of his belongings out of his apartment despite having no issues with the landlord.

Ohiri said when the policewomen attempted to arrest Victor, he escaped and nearly used his vehicle to kill them. They, however, gave him a hot chase using motorcycles to apprehend him and brought him to the station.

He said: “I have been suspecting Victor. Since the incident happened, he had been secretly moving his belongings out of his apartment. I begged the police to interrogate him, that he would know the whereabouts of my wife and children.

“Victor spent the night at the station. But the next day, his people came and called one policewoman from Kala, who came and took Victor on bail. But my in-laws were still claiming that I killed their daughter and my children. I remained devastated.

“But the Commissioner of Police asked the Ada George Police Station to carry out a thorough investigation.

“I took the pictures of my wife and children to a television station and paid the station to declare them missing. I went to anti-kidnapping unit of the police to explain myself because my in-laws were on my neck.

“While I was at the anti-kidnapping unit after making another statement at 9pm, they asked me to sit down somewhere. I sat down there till 2 am. They called me out and surrounded me with guns. They asked me to repeat everything I entered in the statement.

“I repeated everything, but my in-laws were still insisting I used them for rituals. But the head of the anti-kidnapping asked me and my in-laws to form a team and begin to look for them. He gave us two weeks to find them. We resorted to prayers and my in-laws even resorted to other spiritual means.

The Nation

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Ex-Kano emir Bayero cancels Sallah durbar amid tension

Published

7 minutes ago

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March 27, 2025

By

Aminu Ado Bayero

Ex-Kano emir Bayero cancels Sallah durbar amid tension

The 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, has announced the cancellation of this year’s Sallah festivities, citing the need to maintain peace and security in the state.

In a broadcast, the Emir expressed regret over the decision but emphasized that ensuring the safety of lives and property remains his top priority.

“Following the people’s mandate bestowed upon us and our commitment to their protection, we find it necessary to withdraw any arrangements made for the Sallah celebrations given the current situation,” the Emir stated.

He acknowledged that the decision was influenced by consultations with respected religious leaders and other concerned stakeholders.

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He further stressed that while the Sallah Durbar is a cherished tradition, it should not come at the expense of peace and stability.

“Sallah Durbar is not a do-or-die affair for us. If it risks becoming a source of chaos, loss of lives, or destruction of property, then it is best to shelve it,” he said.

The Emir expressed hope that this decision would contribute to lasting peace in Kano and the nation at large.

He also extended his apologies to the people of Kano, urging them to embrace the move in the interest of the state’s well-being.

Bayero had earlier written to the police to notify them of his intention to hold Durbar, raising concerns about likelihood of violence since Muhammadu Sanusi, the 15th Emir of Kano, was planning similar event.

 

Ex-Kano emir Bayero cancels Sallah durbar amid tension

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Reps pass bill to strip Vice President, governors, deputies of immunity

Published

15 hours ago

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March 26, 2025

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House of Representatives

Reps pass bill to strip Vice President, governors, deputies of immunity

The House of Representatives on Wednesday passed for second reading a constitutional amendment bill seeking to remove the immunity conferred on the Vice President, Governors and their Deputies.

The lawmaker said the move is to curb corruption, curb immunity, eradicate impunity and enhance accountability in public office.

The constitutional amendment Bill sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers) reads: “A Bill for an act to alter the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to qualify the immunity conferred on the President, remove the immunity conferred on the Vice President, the Governors and their Deputies, in order to curb corruption, eradicate impunity and enhance accountability in public office and for Related Matters”.

Section 308 of the constitution confers immunity on the President, Vice President, Governors and their deputies, exempting them from criminal and civil prosecution while in office.

The House also passed for second reading, a constitutional amendment Bill to create a constitutional role for traditional rulers, while providing for the recognition of the advisory role for them in the constitution.

The two bills are part of the 42 on devolution of power, strengthening of institutions, state creation, traditional rulers citizenship, fundamental rights and objectives and local government passed by the House.

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On Tuesday, the House passed 39 constitutional alteration bills for second reading.

While passing a bill to provide for stronger measures and checks for the sustenance of autonomy of local government system in the country, it also passed for second reading another constitutional alteration bill seeking to remove local government as a tier of government constitutionally recognised and funded by the Federal Government.

The second bill sponsored by Solomon Bob (PDP, Rivers) seeks to vest the creation and funding of local government on the states.

The House is also seeking to amend the constitution to review the framework for local government administration, establish a robust legal legal regime to strengthen administrative efficiency, promote transparency, accountability and deepen democratic practice in the local government.

On state creation, The Nation observed that a bill for the creation of Etiti State from the five South eastern States was again read for the second time even though similar bill was passed for second reading.

The bill for the creation of Etiti state sponsored by Amobi Ogah and four others was first passed for first reading on the July 11,  2025 while a second bill on the same subject matter sponsored by Deputy Minority Whip, George Ozodinobi was listed and passed for second reading on Tuesday.

Reps pass bill to strip Vice President, governors, deputies of immunity

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Businessman collapses in court during trial over $578,000 cash seizure

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15 hours ago

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March 26, 2025

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Businessman collapses in court during trial over $578,000 cash seizure

A businessman, Okorie Sunday, who was arrested on March 19 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, with $578,000 in cash, collapsed in court during his trial on Wednesday, March 26.

Okorie appeared before the Federal High Court in Lagos, where his trial commenced at 8:30 AM. However, he collapsed just as the court registrar was about to re-read the charges against him.

Court officials and security personnel rushed to his aid, and proceedings were briefly halted.

Previously on Tuesday, Okorie had been arraigned in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on four counts related to money laundering and a currency scam.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment before Justice Deinde Dipeolu.

After a brief agreement from both parties for a swift trial, Okorie was remanded in custody and the case was adjourned to Wednesday.

During the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Okorie’s lawyer, Uche Okoronkwo, informed the court that his client wished to change his plea from not guilty to guilty.

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The EFCC’s counsel, Chineye Okezie, confirmed that Okorie indeed wanted to plead guilty to the first two counts, and requested the withdrawal of the third and fourth counts. Justice Dipeolu agreed to the request and directed that the charges be re-read.

However, as the registrar began to read the charges, Okorie collapsed without warning. His wife and daughter, who were present in the courtroom, were visibly distraught, with both of them breaking into tears.

At the time of writing this report, Okorie had been rushed to a hospital for medical attention, and the proceedings were temporarily halted.

The arrest took place when Okorie arrived in Lagos from Johannesburg aboard South African Airways Flight SA60 on March 19.

Initially, he declared only $279,000 at the airport’s currency declaration desk. However, a routine search revealed an additional $299,000 concealed in multiple packages, bringing the total sum to $578,000.

Authorities also discovered €100 and a counterfeit $250 note among the undeclared funds.

The EFCC charged Okorie with violating Sections 3(5) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and Sections 3(1)(a), 5(1)(b), and (2) of the Counterfeit Currency (Special Provisions) Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Businessman collapses in court during trial over $578,000 cash seizure

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