- Late Hillary Aguma was stoned, hit on the head by Simeon Ogbu over concubine
- On January 10, 2022, Mr. Aguma allegedly died of injuries inflicted on his head by Mr. Ogbu
- After 2 years of tortuous legal battle, the deceased was buried January 11
After months of tortuous legal battle with the alleged assailant, the remains of the slain Enugu vigilante member of Ogbodu-Aba, Udenu local government area of Enugu state was finally buried January 11, 2024.
According to the elder brother of the deceased security officer, Mr. Obadiah Aguma, the slain brother was buried so as to give the family a little rest of mine.
In an exclusive chat with WITHIN NIGERIA, Obadiah stated that the burial was coming after out-of-court settlement with the family with the alleged killer.
Recall that in One Simeon Ogbu, a tipper driver from Ogbodu-Aba, allegedly killed his friend, Hilary Aguma, from Agushire-Ezimo, both in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.
WITHIN NIGERIA source revealed that Hilary died as a result of head injuries he sustained after Mr Ogbu hit him with a stone in the head on 17th and 18th of December 2021 after a fierce fight over a concubine.
How it all started
According to WITHIN NIGERIA eye witness who spoke under ugly incident that led to the death of Mr. Aguma started when one Ebere Odo, Mr Ogbu’s concubine, had reported to the suspect that a man flashed a torch-light at her when she was bathing in an open place.
One Ifeanyi was said to be passing by Ms Odo’s house at night, and mistakenly flashed his phone light where she was bathing in an unshielded enclosure.
It was gathered that one Ebere Odo, a divorcee, was bathing in her compound in an open area when Ifeanyi, using his phone light to see the route, flashed the light on Ebere’s nakedness.
She got angry and immediately reported Ifeanyi to her lover, Simeon Ogbu.
Without giving Ifeanyi benefit of doubt or principle of fair hearing as required in such matter, Ogbu hurriedly rushed to a beer parlour where Ifeanyi was, and began to fight him.
Hilary, while separating them, told Ogbu that it was a shame that a woman would cause such fight between him and Ifeanyi.
As quarrelling ensued between Mr. Ogbu and the man Hilary had cautioned Ogbu over his activities with his concubine.
Not comfortable with Aguma’s advice, Ogbu then left the man who was said to have flashed the light, and turned to fight Hilary, using a stock to hit his head, leading to his death on January 10, 2022.”
Our reporter equally gathered that the ugly incident happened on fight took place on 17th December, 2021.
During the fight, it was gathered that they were separated shortly, leading to the thinking by the people around that it was all over.
However, shortly after peace seemed restored, Ogbu picked a stone and hit Hilary in the head.
The deceased then started bleeding though he still engaged the suspect in another fierce fight. When they saw that he had be able to overpower the deceased, they were separated again by members of the Neighbourhood watch. The matter spilled over to 18th December.
Narrating further, our source revealed that “around 2am when everybody thought that it was all over, the hostility resumed again. It happened that Hilary was in search of his motorcycle key when Simeon attacked him again.
“Simeon hit him hard in the head, and Hilary collapsed. Thinking that he was dead, Ogbu, ran away. Hilary staggered and managed to get up. He was taken to the nearest police station where he wrote a statement before being admitted in a hospital. The suspect was arrested shortly.”
WITHIN NIGERIA investigation showed that Hilary was on admission at the hospital for about two weeks before being discharged.
Despite staying in the hospital for two weeks, his health worsened, and he was referred to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu, where he had head surgeries on January 2. He died on 10th January, 2022.
The arrest and prosecution of the suspect
Following this ugly development, Mr. Ogbu was subsequently arrested and taken to the Divisional Police Station, Obollo-Afor division. He was further charged to a Magistrate Court for alleged murder.
In any case, the counsel to the deceased family, Barr Elochukwu Ugwu, told our correspondent on recently in Enugu that, “The suspect was arraigned on 8th February, 2022, before His Worship, I.M. Mama, the chief magistrate of Grade One Magistrates’ Court, Enugu.
As a result of the nature of the case, the magistrate declined jurisdiction and remanded the defendant at the custody of the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Enugu.
“In that case, the Department of Public Prosecution is being awaited. The matter was adjourned to 10th March, 2022.”
Since then, the prosecution has been ongoing until recently.
Burial/Funeral of the decease
Speaking recently to newsmen in Enugu, Barr. Ugwu explained that the family of Hillary Aguma and that of the person that killed Hilary met sometime ago. The deceased family pleaded to be allowed to undertake all the expenses of burying Hilary. They expressed their readiness to bury Hillary.
According to the counsel, but for over three months now, they have not done anything, thereby creating doubts in the minds of people as to their sincerity in what they said they would do.
To this effect, the family of Hillary is making efforts on their own to bury their son as soon as possible, hence the fixing of the burial date on January 11.
WITHIN NIGERIA source revealed that following a far-reaching decision reached by the two families, the deceased will be buried on January 11 and his funeral held the same.
According to Igbo tradition he who kills a man will carry out his/her funeral rites which entails killing Igbo cow to appease the spirit of the deceased, which Simeon’s family has agreed to do.
According to the deceased’s brother, there will wake keep at his residence, Agushire Ezimo on Wednesday, January 10, 2024.
Requiem Mass takes place at St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish, Ogbodu-Aba at 10am after which internment follows immediately.
Background of the duo
Mr Ogbu, popularly called Eze Afojuru, is reportedly a rich tipper driver. He is from Onitsha Ogbodu-Aba. An insider said, “He has about three tippers. His problem is that he is randy. He has nine children, some of them grown-up, but he does not play with women. He is also a serial drunkard. He is however peace-loving until this ugly incident.”
Hilary, on the other hand, was an Okada rider. Born on 10/08/68, his wife died a couple of years ago, leaving behind her husband and their only daughter.
He was also a Choirmaster at St. Anthony’s Catholic Parish, Ogbodu-aba.
With the burial and subsequent funeral of the deceased, it was gathered that the suspect will be released from correctional centre were he has been awaiting trial since the incident..