An Apostolic Church pastor in Umuahia, Salem Chigozirim, is facing a three count charge before an Umuahia High Court , Abia State, for allegedly strangling a 45-year-old housewife, Virginia Ndife, and a lady, Chioma Nwoke.
Chigozirim is being charged with murder and demanding a ransom.
The accused was said to have strangled Virginia on September 21, 2021.
Mr Christian Ndife who is the deceased husband explained that his wife on the day of the incident went to their new house on 67, Agulu Street, Umuahia, to do some work with the suspect, who was also a plumber.
Ndife said he was at their family house when his daughter informed him that his wife had been killed.
“I rushed to the house, only to see the lifeless body of my wife. I reported to the police and the DSS. After two weeks, the DSS captured the suspect.
“I saw that my wife was strangled with a blue bathing sponge in the neck; the entire room was scattered. The defendant wrote something on a sheet and placed on the ground that he was looking for some documents and when he called my wife, she told him to do his worst.
“He said he had done some plumbing services for my wife and also sent same message to my brother-in-law, Anthony Okeke, that he was looking for his keke documents.”
Chigozirim, during interrogation by the DSS, was said to have confessed to the earlier killing of Chioma in August 2021.
The case was adjourned till May 24, 2022.
