Enugu court remands native doctor, two others for murder, kidnapping

A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Enugu North District, Enugu State, has remanded a “native doctor”, Levi Obieze, popularly known as Edey Play, Edey Show, at the Correctional Service Centre in Enugu for alleged murder and kidnapping.

Obieze was remanded alongside two other suspects identified as Sebastian Emeka Offor and Odinamkpa Ejike by the Court presided over by Magistrate Osondu Chukwuani.

Their remand on Wednesday ended several weeks of suspense. They were arrested on May 29 of this year. While the other two suspects were apprehended in Enugu, Obieze was caught at the Badagry-Seme axis while allegedly attempting to flee the country after his crimes were uncovered.

The trio were arraigned on seven-count charges involving murder and kidnapping. Magistrate Chukwuani, however, adjourned the matter until August 20, 2025, and directed that their files be moved to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice.

Obieze’s arrest followed intelligence linking him to the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl, identified as Okoye Ukamaka, in Isiagu community, Enugu State.

It was also alleged that decomposing bodies were found at his shrine in Ishiagu in Ezeagu Local Government Area of Enugu State when the security team swooped on the area.

When his heinous crime was uncovered in May, it made headlines and dominated the media for weeks. His eventual arrest at the borders while attempting to flee the country also sent the airwaves into a frenzy.

Recently, critics had wondered why he had not been arraigned since his arrest for the crimes against him.

The native doctor was accused of burying people alive to preserve the effectiveness and power of his charms, and the alarm was raised after the incident of the 13-year-old girl who was kidnapped while on her way to the farm with her father.

Part of the charge sheets marked MEN/473c/2025 signed by the Prosecutor and Head of the Legal Team, Enugu State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Justice Attah, had read, “That you, Obi Levi Obieze, a.k.a Ozo Ezeani/E dey play e dey show (male), Sabastine Emeka Offor (male), Odinwamkpa Ejike (male), and others now at large, between the month of April, 2025 to 26th day of May, 2025, at about 1800hours at along Umuojo Road, Ishiagu Village, Umumba Ndiagu Community in Ezeagu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony

“That you… and others now at large, on the same date, time, place, and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did use personal violence and kidnapped Ukamaka, female, aged 13 years, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 (2) of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, No. 14 of 2010.

“That you… and others now at large, on the same date, time, place, and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did use personal violence and kidnapped Chimaobi Ezi, male, aged 15 years, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 (2) of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, No. 14 of 2010.

“That you… and others now at large, on the same date, time, place, and in the aforementioned Magisterial District did use personal violence and kidnapped Joy Miracle Udokamma, female, aged 31 years, thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 315 (2) of the Criminal Code (Amendment) Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, No. 14 of 2010.

“That you… on or before the 21st day of May, 2025, at Umuojo Road, Ishiagu Village, Umumba Ndiagu Community in Ezeagu, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony to wit: murder and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 494 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria 2004”.

The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge, while the court adjourned until August 20 for further hearing.