A Magistrate Court sitting in Port Harcourt has remanded Nasarawa State born John Danjuma, the alleged killer of a former Director of Administration at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Boma Amaomu-Jumbo at the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre, Bundu-Ama, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Magistrate, Collins Ali, who presided over the matter in Magistrate Court 14, gave the order on Monday, May 15, 2023 after receiving a remand warrant from the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

He further ordered that the case file be handed over to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for his legal opinion on the matter, saying further proceedings by the court would depend on the advice of the DPP.

The charge sheet with suit number, PMD/RMP/162A/2023, which was sighted by Kristina Reports, charged Danjuma with murder, stealing and malicious damage contrary to Sections 319 (1), 390 (a) and 451 of the Criminal Code CAP 37 Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999 within Port Harcourt.

The now deceased Boma George Amaomu-Jumbo, who was a Knight of the Anglican Communion, was born into the family of late Chief Owen Banigo, and married to the Jumbo Major House, both of Grand Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State.  

During her lifetime, she distinguished herself as a career professional and rose through the ranks in the Federal Civil Service to become the Director of Administration in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH).

She held the position until her retirement and was quietly living out her life after public service before her gruesome murder by her daredevil security guard on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at her residence in Port Harcourt.

In a chat with Kristina Reports shortly after the court session, counsels for the family of the deceased, Abereton Wilcox, SAN, and Dolapo Tella Attoni, said they are determined to see that justice is served in the matter, informing that they would wait for the DPP’s advice, describing the offense as homicide.

“The Magistrate has ordered that he be remanded at the federal prison pending the DPP’s advice; so, we’ll be out here on the 15^th of June to see the outcome of the DPP’s advice.”

“The accused person, the person alleged to have murdered one Mrs. Boma Jumbo a few days back was brought to court to secure a remand order pending the DPP’s legal advice. You recall that the offense itself borders on homicide, as well as, armed robbery. So, it’s going to be tried by High Court.

“But before then, the procedure is for the DPP to look at the material evidence, look at the facts of the case, to see if it discloses the commission of an offense and, in this case, the documentary evidence, the confessional statements, the video evidence, the murder weapon, the pictures of the scene of crime are overwhelming and clearly points to the commission of an offense as well as the autopsy report that will be issued by a government hospital.

“So, those will be part of the records that will be forwarded to the DPP and we believe that in the next two weeks, the DPP’s legal opinion will be available, once it’s available, we’ll file an information and trial will immediately commence at the High Court.”

They expressed the hope that the prosecuting authorities would deploy all available resources to actively pursue the murder charge and ensure the perpetrator is punished for his crimes.

“He was standing trial for theft, the case is still pending, and there’s no law that says the complainant must testify himself or herself but not withstanding her demise that case can still go on.

“But now, it is natural or logical that since there is a more serious offense which is murder which carries death penalty, the family in particular and I believe the prosecuting authorities would vigorously deploy resources to pursue the murder charge.”

Earlier, the counsel to the Police, representing the Inspector General of Police, Sarah Nweke had told the court that the deceased received 21 severe cuts by the suspect.