Understanding Why A Federal High Court Freed Chidinma Accused of Murdering Her Boyfriend

Understanding Why A Federal High Court Freed Chidinma Accused of Murdering Her Boyfriend

A lot of mixed reactions from Nigerians have continued to trail the decision of the Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, to discharge and acquit a female National Youths Service Corps member, identified as Miss Chidinma Paschaline Odume. Recall she was arraigned before Justice Bassey Nkanang for allegedly murdering her 26-year-old boyfriend, identified as Akwaowo Japheth, in January 2021.

Well, many Nigerians have continued to register their dissatisfaction with the verdict of the high court sitting in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, though without truly understanding why Chidinma was freed by the court. First of all, according to police investigation, it was revealed that the deceased who took Chidinma to his house on that fateful day (January 10, 2021), tried acting funny. In other words, while in his house, he had allegedly attempted to force himself on her, including threatening to kill her with a machete, all in his desperate efforts to forcefully have his way.

According to Vanguard newspaper, the Police Public Relations Officer in the State, Odiko Macdon, further revealed that the above incident led to a serious misunderstanding between the alleged lovebirds, and it was in the process that she engaged in an act that eventually led to his death. As such, it was concluded that she only acted in self defense, which eventually vindicated her from the alleged murder charges.