Chinedum Treasure
Fresh facts about the missing Vice-chairman of Dubai Estate, Awka, Anambra state, Mr. Benjamin Ezenma, popularly known as, Big Ben emerged in State High Court sitting in Awka as her wife, Mrs Tochukwu Benedicta Ezenma told Justice Ike Ogu that she got to know about her husband’s disappearance through his business partner, Mr. Chukwudi Ezenwa.
Lead in a evidence by the prosecution counsel, Assistant Director from the office of the Attorney-general, Anambra state Ministry of Justice, Mrs P. N. Ofomah, Mrs Ezenma told the Court that she spoke last with her husband at about 5.33pm on November 12, 2024 on a video call when he told her that he was going to honour a meeting invite by one “Mr Loco” in Awka, and, that since then her husband had been missing.
“I’m living with my husband and children at City Escape Estate, Guzape, Abuja in the nation’s capital city, but my husband carried on his real estate business in Awka, Anambra state with his business partner, Mr. Chukwudi Ezenwa.
“After speaking with my husband through video call on November 12, 2024, at about 5.33pm, and, he told me that he was going to have a meeting with Mr. Loco, I told him that I would not bother calling him again since I knew that such his meeting normally lasts very late into the night. So, I told him that my next call would be the following day being November 13, 2024,” she stated.
Mrs Ezenma however, told the Court that her husband’s business partner, Mr. Ezenwa had called at about 10am the following morning, November 13, 2024 and asked her if she had spoken with her husband since 8am that day.
She said she had told him no, and, started dialling her husband’s phone number, but, discovered to her shock that the phone was switched off.
She said it was at that point that she became worried, adding that she and her family members later that day went to the Department of State Services (DSS), and lodged a report that her husband was missing.
Under cross-examination by Mr. Alex Ejesieme , a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), counsel to the 1st defendant (Ozo Jeff Nweke) in the suit marked No. A/2c/2025 : The State Vs (1)Ozo Jeff Nweke, (2) Tochukwu Nwokoye Nwosu, and (3) David Chukwuemeka Chukwunonso (Defendants), wife of missing Big Ben told the Court that except the first defendant (Ozo Nweke) whom her husband had always mentioned his name to her, she did not know any of the other two accused persons.
She also told the Court that she had told the DSS in her statement that for two years her husband had a business disagreement with his partner, Mr. Ezenwa over sharing formula of their estate business proceeds, but, that they have resolved it.
She further under cross-examination told the Court that apart from the disagreement her husband earlier had with Chukwudi over sharing formula which they later resolved, he also had issues pertaining to land with the people of Awka and Enugwu-Agidi communities respectively.
The case was adjourned to April 30 and May 2, 2025, respectively for continuation of hearing on the matter.
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