This forms the plank of a query raised by relatives of a deceased Director of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mrs. Louisa Amenaghawon Eni Umukoro, whose widower, Charles Eni Umukoro, is being tried for being behind her death. Charles, said to be an ex-Deputy Chairman of Sapele Local Government Area in Delta State, was arraigned before Justice Mary Anne Anenih of the High Court of the Federal Capital territory (FCT), Maitama in May, by the police on a one-count charge of culpable homicide, which was filed in the name of the Inspector General (IG). The prosecution alleged that Charles caused the death of his late wife by “hitting her on the head, which caused internal haemorrhage, with the knowledge that her death would be the probable consequence”. It produced an autopsy report from the National Hospital, Abuja, which disclosed that the deceased died on April 21, 2016, from “subdural haemorrhage” as a result of two bruises on both sides of her neck. The defendant denied the allegation by pleading not guilty, and said the injuries that led to his wife’s death resulted from “domestic accident”. The case had proceeded unhindered, with a private lawyer engaged by the IG, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), prosecuting until November 7, when a lawyer, A.B. Mamman, emerged in the proceedings, claiming to be from the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). Mamman said he had been instructed to take over the prosecution. An infuriated Okutepa urged the court to disregard the information from Mamman. He said he was perturbed that the AGF decided to take over the case upon a petition by the defence lawyer. He said the defence failed to avail him with a copy of the petition on which the AGF acted. The trial judge has adjourned to December 5 to take a position. But the deceased’s relatives have expressed surprise at the turn of event and the role the AGF has assumed in the trial of a man accused of murdering their sister. Addressing a news conference in Abuja on Friday, the deceased’s senior brother, Nosa Ukponwan, an engineer, said the relatives were worried about the role of the AGF in the case. He accused the defence lawyer of being behind the scheming to frustrate the trial. Ukponwan, who said the complainants were comfortable with Okutepa as the prosecuting lawyer, urged the AGF not to lend his office in support of some dubious minds bent on frustrating Charles’ trial in relation to their sister’s death. He said: “However, we are encouraged by the person and capacity of the AGF to critically examine the facts of the case. We have no doubt that the AGF will, at the end of the day, direct that Mr. Okutepa (SAN), who is a seasoned prosecutor, proceeds with the prosecution of the matter.”]]>

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