Regina
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 investigation.PUNCH
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