By Amos Aar
A Makurdi Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded 59-year-old Kelvin Iorfa at the Federal Correctional Centre Makurdi over alleged assault and attempt to commit culpable homicide, amongst other offences.
When the matter came up on Thursday for mention, several lawyers appeared in the court for various interested parties in the matter.
I. E. Ula announced appearance for International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), J. K. Shembe for Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ushahemba Dekaa appeared for NBA HeForShe Network, Benue Chapter, while Hembafan Utange announced appearance for NBA Women Forum.
The First Information Report (FIR) of the police, which was read in court, states: “On April 11, 2023 at about 1000hrs, one Jenkis Shande of KM 4 Gboko Road, Makurdi, reported at the Police Criminal Investigation Department, Makurdi, stating that, on April 10th, 2023 at about 1900hrs while on Facebook, he noticed a video of one Ms Nguwasen Iorfa of Clerk Quarters Makurdi where she was ruthlessly beaten to coma by one Kelvin Iorfa of same address who was hitting her with objects on her head and other sensitive parts of her body until she became unconscious and he left her to her fate.”
The police FIR added that the said Kelvin Iorfa was arrested during police investigation and he confessed to committing the crime which was a violation of section 266 and 230 of the Penal Code Law of Benue State 2004.
No plea was taken for want of jurisdiction.
I. A. Ututu, who appeared for Kelvin Iorfa, made an oral application for his client’s bail, but the presiding Chief Magistrate, R. S. Iyorshe, asked him to formally approach the court on the bail application.
The Police Prosecuting Officer, Inspector Ato Godwin, informed the court that investigation into the matter was still in progress and asked the court for another date to enable the prosecution prove its case.
Chief Magistrate Iyorshe therefore ordered that Kelvin be remanded at the Federal Correctional Center, Makurdi, and adjourned the matter to June 8, 2023 for further mention.
National Record had reported Wednesday Kelvin’s arrest by the Benue State Police Command on April 11, 2023 in connection with the violent assault on Ms Nguwasen, who is reported to be Kelvin’s stepsister.
