Suspect remanded for abducting Anambra bizman

The Anambra State High Court, sitting in Awka, on Thursday, remanded one of the three suspects arraigned for the alleged kidnapping of the co-founder and Vice Chairman of Dubai Estate, Awka, Benjamin Ezenma, popularly known as “BigBen.”

Ezenma was kidnapped on November 12, 2024, and his whereabouts have remained unknown to date.

The three suspects facing trial in connection with Ezenma’s disappearance are Jeff Nweke, Nwokoye Tochukwu, and David Chukwunonso.

The defendants were arraigned before Court One in Awka presided over by Justice Ike Ogu.

The charges against them relate to conspiracy and the kidnapping of Ezenma.

In the suit marked AWK/6C/2025 and read in court, the three defendants, who were present, were accused of “conspiring to kidnap” Benjamin Ezenma, alias “Big Ben,” vice-chairman of Dubai Estate, Awka, Anambra State, within the court’s jurisdiction on November 12, 2024.

Each of the defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the two charges.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Alex Ajesieme, represented Jeff Nweke in court while the prosecuting counsel, a deputy director from the Ministry of Justice, presented the case against the defendants.

In his ruling, Justice Ike Ogu ordered that two of the defendants be allowed to return home, while Nwokoye was remanded in custody.

“Two of the defendants will be allowed to go home while the third defendant will be remanded in custody till the next adjourned date,” the judge declared.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to March 7, 2025.