Three persons have been arraigned before the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja over the alleged murder of businessman, Adimike Godwin, whose body was found in his Guzape residence with multiple stab wounds.
The defendants, Adimike Odirachukwu Anthony, Adimike Chinyere Stephany and Comfort Ajibade, were docked before FCT High Court 13 on a four-count charge bordering on alleged criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide and offences under the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act.
The court ordered the three defendants to be remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre and adjourned the matter until September 30, 2026, for further proceedings.
The arraignment followed weeks of investigation by detectives of the FCT Police Command into the killing, which drew public attention after the businessman was found dead in his home in the Guzape area of Abuja.
Police alleged that Godwin, who was the father of two of the defendants, was murdered in his residence on May 15, 2026.
According to the police, the incident was reported to the Guzape Divisional Police Headquarters by a concerned relative after repeated attempts to reach the deceased failed.
Detectives were said to have visited the residence, where they found Godwin lying unconscious in his room with multiple stab wounds.
He was taken to Karu General Hospital, where doctors confirmed him dead.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT Command, Ahmed Sanusi, thereafter ordered an extensive homicide investigation into the incident.
Investigators initially arrested five suspects, including two domestic staff members attached to the deceased’s residence, as they worked to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing.
However, after reviewing the outcome of the investigation, the police filed charges against three suspects, while the others were not included in the charge before the court.
According to the charge, the three defendants were accused of conspiring to kill the deceased and carrying out the alleged murder.
The prosecution also accused Adimike Odirachukwu Anthony of entering into a same-sex civil union.
Adimike Chinyere Stephany and Comfort Ajibade were also jointly charged with entering into a same-sex civil union, contrary to the provisions of the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act.
Although the defendants took their plea before the court, the trial could not proceed, prompting the court to remand them in custody pending the next hearing.
Confirming the development in a statement, the Police Public Relations Officer of the FCT Command, SP Josephine Adeh, said the command remained committed to ensuring justice for victims of crime.
She said detectives would continue to pursue criminal cases diligently while respecting the constitutional rights of all persons involved in the judicial process.
The case had earlier attracted attention following reports of the violent circumstances surrounding the businessman’s death, with residents and members of the public calling for a thorough investigation and prosecution of those found culpable.
With the suspects now formally before the court, attention is expected to shift to the prosecution’s evidence when the case resumes on September 30.
The defendants have not been convicted of the allegations.
