A Delta State High Court in Ogwashi-Uku has set July 29, 2026, as the date for delivering its verdict in the case of three individuals charged with the kidnapping and murder of Elozino Joshualia Ogege, a university student. The trial, originating from a 2019 charge, faced numerous adjournments before concluding.
The court reserved its decision after all legal teams presented their final written arguments. S. C. Okehielem Esq., representing the first defendant, called for an acquittal, asserting that the prosecution did not prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Similarly, Cosmas Ogugua Esq., representing the second defendant, and Ben Okoh Esq., counsel for the third defendant, both requested the court to dismiss the charges against their clients.
During the proceedings, it was noted that a fourth accused, Robinson Obajero Ojokojo, who was identified as a native doctor, passed away while the case was ongoing. On the prosecution side, the Delta State Solicitor-General, Omamuzo Erebe, SAN, along with Funkekeme Junior Solomon, argued that the evidence clearly demonstrated the defendants’ guilt and urged the court to convict them on all charges.
The accused—Macaulay Desmond Oghenemaro, Nwosisi Benedict Uche, and Enaike Onoriode—face allegations related to the abduction and killing of Elozino Ogege in November 2018. The victim, a 300-level Mass Communication student at Delta State University, Abraka, was reportedly taken and murdered in a case the prosecution linked to ritual practices. Her death sparked widespread outrage and drew national attention to violence against women and safety in academic institutions.
The upcoming judgment on July 29 is expected to conclude one of the most prominent criminal cases in Delta State in recent years, offering a measure of closure to the community and the victim’s family.