Cross River takes over murder case after lapses in prosecution

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The Cross River State Government has stepped into the murder case involving two defendants, Uchenna Peter Chinweikpe and Valentine Alloysius, popularly known as My Father My Father, following complaints about delays and alleged mishandling of the trial.

The case, filed as Charge No. HM/9C/2022 – Inspector General of Police v. Uchenna Peter Chinweikpe & Valentine Alloysius, involves the alleged murder of one Princewill Igbunaju Ikenna on 3rd September 2022.

In a statement issued by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Anthony Oken Effiom, the state government said it had received several complaints on social media from a sibling of the late Princewill, alleging that justice was being delayed.

Effiom said the Attorney-General of Cross River State immediately ordered an inquiry into the allegations to verify the facts and ensure transparency in the matter.

According to him, the investigation revealed that the case, which was initially filed by the Nigeria Police Force in October 2022, had made progress before it stalled and that three witnesses had already testified by January 2023 before it was adjourned.

However, he explained that on February 7, 2023, the presiding judge, Justice Ashu Ewah of the Ikom Division of the Cross River State High Court, granted bail to the defendants on health grounds while the police prosecutor was absent due to official duties in Akwa Ibom State.

“The matter could not continue for several months because the presiding judge was assigned to serve at an election petition tribunal,” Effiom stated.

He further disclosed that the victim’s family, dissatisfied with the pace of the case and the bail granted to the defendants, petitioned the Chief Judge of Cross River State in March 2024, requesting that the case be reassigned.

“The Honourable Chief Judge, after considering the petition and the judge’s response, reassigned the matter to Court 2 of the Ikom Division in May 2024, in the interest of justice,” Effiom said.

He, however, noted that an administrative lapse within the judiciary caused a delay in transferring the case file to the new court, as the Deputy Chief Registrar responsible for the transmission failed to carry out the task.

“This unfortunate development was discovered during the 2025 annual judicial vacation. The erring staff has been queried and referred to the Judicial Service Commission for disciplinary action,” the statement added.

Effiom confirmed that the case had now been properly reassigned to Court 2 of the Ikom Division and came up for re-arraignment on October 13, 2025.

He said while the first defendant was absent, his counsel appeared in court, and that the case was adjourned to October 21, 2025.

To ensure effective prosecution, he said the Attorney-General has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions to take over the case from the police.

“In the interest of justice, the Attorney-General has instructed the Director of Public Prosecutions, Cross River State, to immediately assume responsibility for the case to guarantee diligent prosecution and restore public confidence,” Effiom stated.

He added that the Ministry of Justice had reached out to the victim’s family through his brother, Ernest Onyeka Igbunaju, to brief them on steps taken to revive the case.

“We have also requested assistance from the Commissioner of Police to apprehend three other suspects, identified as Elvis Ntui, Pastor Effiong, and one Barry, who have been on the run since the incident,” he said.

The Ministry expressed sympathy to the family of the deceased and assured the public that justice would be served.

“The Ministry of Justice sympathises with the family of the late Princewill Igbunaju Ikenna and assures them and the general public that this case will be diligently prosecuted to its logical conclusion,” Effiom affirmed.