The Cross River State Ministry of Justice has directed the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to immediately take over the prosecution of Charge No. HM/9C/2022 – Inspector-General of Police v. Uchenna Peter Chinweikpe and Valentine Alloysius (aka My Father My Father), following public complaints about delays in the case.
The defendants are standing trial for the alleged murder of one Princewill Igbunaju Ikenna, which occurred on September 3, 2022.
In a statement signed by Anthony Okon Effiom, Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, the government said it was alarmed by social media complaints from a sibling of the deceased regarding the perceived lack of progress in the case. The Attorney-General of the State consequently ordered an inquiry to verify the claims and ensure full transparency.
Findings from the inquiry revealed that the case, filed by the Nigeria Police Force (Zone 6) in October 2022, had made progress with three witnesses already called by January 2023. However, complications arose when the presiding judge, Justice Ashu Ewah of the Ikom Division of the High Court, granted bail to the defendants on health grounds in the absence of the prosecutor, who was engaged in another matter in Akwa Ibom State.
Justice Ewah was subsequently assigned to serve on an election petition tribunal, which stalled further hearings. Dissatisfied with the pace of the case, the victim’s family petitioned the Chief Judge of Cross River State in March 2024, requesting a reassignment.
The Chief Judge granted the request in May 2024, ordering the case transferred to Court 2 of the Ikom Division. However, the Deputy Chief Registrar failed to transmit the case file as instructed an omission only discovered during the judiciary’s 2025 annual vacation. The official has since been queried and referred to the Judicial Service Commission for disciplinary action.
The case has now been properly reassigned to Court 2 and came up for re-arraignment on October 13, 2025, though the first defendant, Uchenna Peter Chinweikpe, was absent. The matter was adjourned to October 21, 2025.
To ensure swift justice, the Attorney-General has instructed the DPP to assume control of the case and coordinate directly with the Commissioner of Police to track down three additional suspects Elvis Ntui, Pastor Effiong, and Barry who are reportedly on the run.
The Ministry expressed sympathy to the family of the late Princewill Igbunaju Ikenna and assured them and the public that justice will be pursued diligently.
“This matter will be diligently prosecuted, and justice will indeed be served,” Effiom stated.
