Prosecution's fears of plot to stall Trial of Suspects in Anambra Realtor's alleged kidnap confirmed

The missing Big Ben

Uchenna Johnson

Awka

It was another frustrating time for the plaintiffs in a case hinging on the alleged abduction of Anambra billionaire and estate developer, Mr. Benjamin Ezemma popularly called Big Ben, at the Awka High Court on Tuesday, following the absence of the trial judge in court.

In the matter, a businessman, Ozo Jeff Nweke, the Chief Executive Officer of Mango and Lion Properties Ltd, was dragged to the Court, with Charge No: AWK/6c/2025, accusing him with others of allegedly kidnapping Ezemma on November 12, 2024.

Controversy has continued to trail the kidnap of Ezemma, a co-director at the high-brow Dubai Estate, Awka, who went missing on November 12, 2024, with his whereabouts yet unknown.

Across various platforms, there have been insinuations that the suspect, Ozo Nweke will feign illness and not appear in court, just to ensure that the matter is postponed.

The source had alleged that Ezemma went missing after he visited Ozo Nweke.

"Immediately Big Ben went missing after he entered Nweke's office building and he was asked to hand over his office CCTV camera coverage, he claimed the cameras developed fault.

"He erased all data from the memory box to hide all evidence of what happened to Ben when he came to that building on the 12th of November, 2025.

"If he is a strong man as he claims, he should come to court fit and tender any medical report," the source said.

True to the suspicions, Ozo Nweke was missing in court today.

Meanwhile, some leaders of Ezinano community in Awka who were at the court have described as mischief, the allegation that Ozo Jeff Nweke, their illustrious son, had a hand in the estate developer’s alleged abduction.

They maintained that the allegation against Nweke was part of the grand plan of a neighbouring community they were in dispute over land to tarnish his image.

However, it was not Ozo Nweke’s absence that led to the postponement of the matter, but the absence of the trial judge.

Some lawyers who were at the Anambra state High Court over the case expressed anger over the sudden postponement of the case.

They complained that they were kept in the dark over the inability of the presiding judge to be in court for the matter.

Some of the lawyers who traveled from outside the state, lamented over the expenses they incurred coming to Awka for the matter, wondering why they were not informed earlier until the court clerk’s announcement of the postponement of the matter.

“They knew that the presiding judge would not be present and they allowed us to travel far distances to come here to waste our time in court.

“I’m supposed to be in another court today but see me here. This is nothing but an insult,” lamented one of the senior lawyers.