A Chief Magistrates’ Court in Makirdi on Thursday ordered that a 37-year old mortician, Valentine Eze, should be remanded at the Correctional Centre for allegedly stealing a corpse.
Eze who lives at N.K.S.T. Ukauwa in Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue, was charged with criminal breach of trust.
However, when the case came up for mention, the defendant pleaded not guilty.
The Chief Magistrate, Regina Alashi, ordered that the defendant be remanded and adjourned the matter until March 3, for hearing.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Friday Kanshio told the court that the case was transferred from the Divisional Police Headquarters, Ihugh to the State CID, Makurdi via a letter.
The letter stated that Terna Orumye reported that his nephew’s corpse was missing from the mortuary.
Orumye stated that he deposited his nephew’s corpse at the N. K.S.T, Mkar mortuary under the custody of the defendant who was the mortician for preservation and embalming.
He stated further that when he went back to the mortuary on December 18, 2025 to retrieve the corpse for burial, the defendant refused to produce the corpse.
The complainant said the defendant claimed the corpse had been stolen by unknown person(s).
Prosecutor said the defendant was arrested and during Police investigation, he confessed to the crime.
Prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 313 of the Penal Code Law of Benue, 2004.
