February 11, (THEWILL) — The Bayelsa State Ministry of Justice has officially taken over the prosecution of the suspects allegedly involved in the killing of a 42-year-old estate agent, Richard Ekpebu.
The move follows a diligent and thorough investigation by the tactical team of Operation Puff Adder, led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, which resulted in arrests across Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa last year.
Senior litigation officers from the State Ministry of Justice confirmed that the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) directed the police to hand over the case file for immediate study and legal action.
The office of the DPP, headed by Barr. Peretimi Judith Peterside, is currently reviewing the voluminous case file submitted by the State Police Command.
Those expected to face prosecution include the principal suspect, 40-year-old George Idumange, and his girlfriend, 23-year-old Miss Henry Victory Bernard.
Others involved are Ekiamene Amaoniye Alex, also known as Cash Money, who is a prison warden with a rank equivalent to ASP, 34-year-old Ibo Imaremi Gold, also known as Police, and 35-year-old Henry Igwe.
The case file was transferred to the Justice Ministry under the directive of the former Commissioner of Police, Mr. Francis Idu.
While the formal charges against the five accused persons have not yet been fully publicized, the specific level of involvement of each individual will determine their counts.
Sources close to the investigation suggest the suspects may be charged with conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and obtaining money under false pretenses.
Other potential charges include conspiracy to destroy evidence and illegal possession of firearms.
The Bayelsa State Command of the Nigeria Police Force had previously paraded George Idumangi in September 2025 for the murder of Ekpebu.
The victim was allegedly killed over a land deal, and his body was discovered on July 24, 2025, dumped in a bush along the New Otuoke Road near Bayelsa Palm.
During the investigation, it was revealed that operatives of Operation Puff Adder and the Nigeria Immigration Service in Festac Town, Lagos, rejected a bribe of ₦4 million offered by Idumangi to avoid being handed over to the police.
He also reportedly offered ₦3 million to police officers to delete incriminating files from his mobile phone.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
