Court remands ex-Benue councillor over assault of woman

The Upper Area Court 2, sitting in Otukpo, Benue State, has remanded a former councillor of Awume-Icho Ward in Ohimini Local Government Area, Daniel Ujah, at the Otukpo Correctional Centre over alleged assault and attempted culpable homicide.

Ujah, 43, was arraigned by the Nigeria Police on charges bordering on criminal trespass, intimidation, criminal force and assault, causing grievous hurt and attempt to commit culpable homicide.

According to the First Information Report marked CR33/2026 released on Thursday, the charges followed a petition filed by one Rebecca Adole at the Area Commander’s Office, Otukpo.

The FIR alleged that on August 28, 2026, Ujah criminally trespassed into the compound of Adole’s mother, Amina Iduh, at Akwutulo, Awume, and assaulted her.

The FIR read partly, “On 31, August, 2026 at about 1600 hours, through petition, one Rebecca Adole ‘F’ of no 27 Pipeline Rasaki Avenue, Eupi Otukpo, came to the Area Commander’s office, the Nigeria Police, Otukpo and reported that on 28 August, 2026 at about 15:30 hours.

“While she was at home, suddenly, she received a phone call from her uncle’s son, named Isaac Iduh, that when her mother, by name Amina Iduh, returned from the farm, one David Uja ‘M’ of Akwutulo Awume criminally trespassed into her mother’s compound, gave her several beatings, and pushed her into a fire and she sustained injury on her bottom.

“Her clothes got burnt, and her mother was taken to the hospital by the police in Onyagede, Ohinmini LGA, where she is receiving treatment.”

The FIR also alleged that Ujah threatened to kill the woman, adding that nobody would be able to stop him.

When the matter came up for mention on Wednesday, Ujah pleaded not guilty to the charges.

His counsel, Rev. O. Simon, who held brief for P.O. Ella, applied for bail on his behalf.

However, the prosecuting counsel, Inspector Nancy Alechenu, opposed the application.

In her ruling, the presiding magistrate, Hasia Garuba, ordered that Ujah be remanded at the Otukpo Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.

Garuba adjourned the matter until September 22, 2026, for further mention.