A relation of a former Minister of Interior, Capt.
Emmanuel Iheanacho (retd.), has been accused of killing his live-in lover.
The suspect, George Iheanacho, allegedly killed his
32-year-old partner, Regina James, the mother of his three children – two boys
and a girl.
George was said to have killed Regina in their
residence at 3, Calvary Street, Iyana Isasi, Lagos-Badagry Expressway in late
April, 2013.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the accused, who worked in
the ex-minister’s company, Genesis Worldwide Shipping Company, Apapa, on the
fateful day, accused Regina, who had lived with him for six years, of
unfaithfulness.
It was further learnt that subsequent argument over
the accusation led to the suspect beating up Regina and in the process, she
fell into a coma.
A source, who craved anonymity, said before Regina,
believed to be from Afia-Nsit Urua Nko, in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of
Akwa Ibom State, could be rushed to the hospital, she had given up the ghost.
“George, sensing that Regina had died, wanted to
escape, but he was apprehended,” the source said.
National President, Akwa Cross Indigenes
Association, Chief Etubom Samson, said his association received a distress call
from a concerned citizen that “our sister, Regina has been killed by her
lover.”
Samson, who said the deceased was their daughter and
member of the association, said, “George and Regina have been living together
for six years. Since that time, he (George) has not deemed it necessary to go
for their traditional marriage. The marriage has produced three children; two
boys and a girl.
“We have always heard complaints of the two
fighting. We did not know it would result into our sister’s death.”
Samson, who said Regina’s corpse had been deposited
at the Island Maternity morgue, said her remains would not be interred until
the deceased had been properly married.
Meanwhile, counsel for ACIA, Onwu Ekowa, Udo and
Co., has written a petition to the police, calling for the prosecution of the
accused immediately.
In a letter signed by the Managing Partner of the
law chamber, Mr. Silas Udoh, the group also demanded N50m compensation for the
family.
The letter, which was also copied to the Managing
Director, Genesis Worldwide Shipping Company Limited, read in part, “We are
aware that George Iheanacho, who cohabited with Regina James and who is now in
your custody, did beat up Regina to death even when he was never married to her
legally.
“We hereby demand the immediate prosecution of the
accused in court, and in addition to pay compensation to the family within 24
hours of the receipt of the letter, or else we shall petition the National Human Rights Commission and address
a press conference on the issue.”
But in reaction, counsel for GWSCL, McPherson, said
there was no nexus between the corporate entity Genesis Worldwide Shipping
Company Limited and George.
The lawyers said, “I am assured you are apprised of
the word ‘corporate legal personality’ and what it portends. More germane is
that George Iheanacho is not in the employ of our client.
“Per adventure that George Iheanacho is in their
employ, the particular case of murder (which is alleged) was not committed by
our client.”
The Police Public Relations Officer of the state
command, DSP Ngozi Braide, confirmed the incident.
She said, “We registered George as Nkem Iheanacho in
our files, while Regina also answered Nkem’s surname although they were not
married.
“The police are treating it as a case of murder
although the man denied that he killed her. The wife’s younger sister, however,
insisted that she was there when the man was beating his wife. We have taken
the corpse for autopsy, which will tell us what actually happened. For now, the
case is under
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