ENUGU, Nigeria — The Enugu State Police Command has arraigned a 46-year-old man, Mr. Livinus Aniegbunam Okoh, before the Enugu East Magistrate Court over the alleged murder of his wife, Mrs. Onyinyechi Okoh, in what authorities described as a shocking case of domestic violence.

Okoh was charged on Wednesday before Magistrate Uche Jideofor of Court 3, Enugu Magisterial District, for allegedly killing his 46-year-old wife at their residence in Umuedum Amuri, Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State.

In the charge marked CME/821C/2025, titled Commissioner of Police vs. Livinus Aniegbunam Okoh, and prosecuted by C.O. Ugwu Esq. and A.C. Amalu Esq., the Police accused Okoh of striking his wife with an axe on October 8, 2025, leading to her death.

The charge read in part:

“That you, Livinus Aniegbunam Okoh ‘m’, on the 8th day of October, 2025, at about 0400 hours at Umuedum Amuri in Nkanu West Local Government Area of Enugu State, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did unlawfully kill one Onyinye Okoh ‘f’ aged 46 years, by hitting her with an axe on her lower jaw, which led to her death and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 274 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria.”

Although the accused is yet to take a plea, the court held that it lacked jurisdiction to grant him bail. Magistrate Jideofor therefore ordered that Okoh be remanded at the Enugu Correctional Centre pending legal advice from the Enugu State Ministry of Justice. The matter was adjourned to December 17, 2025.

Meanwhile, the Enugu State Government has condemned the killing in strong terms, describing it as “a grave reminder of the persistent and unacceptable menace of gender-based violence in our society.”

In a statement issued in Enugu on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Children, Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Ngozi Enih, expressed the government’s outrage, vowing that justice would be pursued to its logical conclusion.

“We call on the judiciary and all relevant authorities to ensure that justice is swiftly served in accordance with the law,” Enih stated. “Violence against women, in any form, is a gross violation of human rights and is contrary to the values of equality, respect, and dignity that we uphold as a people.”

Reiterating the zero-tolerance stance of the Governor Peter Mbah administration on domestic violence, she added that the Ministry would continue to strengthen advocacy and social protection for women and girls across the state.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and assure them that the government stands with them in this difficult time,” the statement continued. “We urge community members to speak out and report all forms of violence and abuse. Silence only protects the perpetrators.”

The state government reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and civil society groups to ensure justice and prevent future occurrences of such tragic incidents.