A Makurdi-based businessman, Kelvin Iorfa, aged 59, who was remanded in prison at the Federal Correctional Service Centre, Makurdi, by a Makurdi Chief Magistrate’s Court last week after his arrest by the police for beating his stepsister, Ms Nguwasen Iorfa, to the point of coma, has reportedly been released.
It was not clear as at the time of the report if his release also went through a formal judicial process with both the police and court involved as efforts by National Record to get the police, court and the respective civil society organisations interested the matter for comment did not yield any result as at press time.
Iorfa was captured in a photograph at his Makurdi residence with Prof. Terhemba Shija, a former APC governorship aspirant in Benue State on Thursday.
Prof. Shija, who tagged the picture, “brotherly visit” on his Facebook timeline was quoted in other people’s posts on social media as saying that Iorfa has learnt “many lessons”.
Reacting to a comment made by a Facebook user as to whether Iorfa’s brutalised sister was worth a sisterly visit, Prof. Shija replied: “There was a sisterly visit to Kelvin yesterday by the victim too. Family is supreme”.
There were a number of commentators who questioned Prof Shija’s seeming support or adoration of Iorfa’s brutal act.
These social media comments indicate that the matter may have been resolved as a family matter despite the clear criminality displayed in a video where Iorfa was recorded brutalising his stepsister, Ms Nguwasen, knocking her unconscious and going ahead to pour on her unconscious body a bucket of cold water.
National Record had reported how Iorfa was brought before a
Makurdi Chief Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, April 13, 2023, but was denied bail as the police prosecuting officer, Inspector Ato Godwin, told the court that investigation into the matter was still in progress and asked the court for another date to enable the prosecution prove its case.
Although Iorfa’s counsel, I. A. Ututu, made an oral application for his bail, however, Chief Magistrate Iyorshe asked him to formally approach the court on the bail application before his application could be granted for Kelvin to be bailed.
Following this, Chief Magistrate R. S. Iyorshe remanded Iorfa in prison and adjourned the matter to June 8, 2023 for further mention.
