Ex-minister’s relation accused of killing live-in lover

Culled from  Punch

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 (pictured above), 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