Court remands suspected killer of FESTAC businesswoman

A Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded in custody, 31-year-old William Kelechi, for allegedly killing a FESTAC businesswoman, Lizzy Njideka.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A. Ipaye-Nwachukwu, said Kelechi should be kept in custody pending the release of the legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

PUNCH Metro had exclusively reported on July 24, 2014 that the international businesswoman was murdered in her home on Odusanya Oduguwa Crescent, Green Estate, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos by her boyfriend.

Njideka, 39, who was said to be preparing for a business trip abroad, was allegedly strangled with her wrapper by the 31-year-old suspect.

Our correspondent had reported that the suspect, after committing the crime, took her Range Rover Sport, ATM cards, and some money, and fled to Ghana.

In a follow-up report of August 7, our correspondent reported that the Interpol, working with the Nigerian police, apprehended the suspect in Cote’d’Ivore.

Kelechi, an indigene of Umuji in Ndemili North LGA of Anambra State, reportedly confessed to the crime, claiming that he strangled his lover because he suspected she was cheating on him.

Kelechi was arraigned on Thursday on two counts of murder.The charge reads, “That you, William Kelechi, alias K.C. on July 19, at about 0200hours at Plot 34, Green Estate, Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Lizzy Njideka (Nee- Chukwubude) by strangling her with a wrapper.

“That you did steal the following property ─ one Range Rover Sport with registration number EKY 509 AZ, one Nokia cell phone, one Motorolla cell phone, one Huwai cell phone, one Diamond Bank ATM card value not yet ascertained and the sum of N140,000, property of late Lizzy Njideka, represented by Augustine Chukwubude.”

The police prosecutors, SP Agwu Chukwu and Inspector Peter Nwangwu, said the offence was punishable under sections 221 and 295 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

The defendant’s plea was not taken.

He was represented by his counsel, Etim Timothy.

Chukwu asked the court to remand the defendant in prison pending legal advice from the DPP.

He said, “We urge the court to remand the defendant in prison to enable the police duplicate the case file and obtain legal advice from the DPP.”

The Chief Magistrate granted the prosecutor’s request.

The matter was adjourned till September 24, 2014.

 Punch.