The Bayelsa State Government will, on Monday, March 16, 2026, arraign the suspected killers of a 42-year-old estate agent, Richard Ekpebu, before a State High Court in Yenagoa
Late Ekpebu was allegedly murdered over a land sales deal, with his body later discovered in a bush along the New Otuoke Road near Bayelsa Palm on July 24, 2025.
Police operatives attached to the tactical team of Operation Puff Adder, led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, reportedly arrested five suspects following extensive investigations carried out in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Yenagoa.
Those arrested in connection with the alleged murder include the prime suspect, 40-year-old George Idumange; his girlfriend, 23-year-old Miss Henry Victory Bernard; a personnel allegedly attached to the Okaka Medium Security Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ekiamene Amaoniye Alex, also known as “Cash Money,” said to hold a rank equivalent to an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP); Ibo Imaremi Gold, 34, also known as “Police”; Queen Felix, the sister of the prime suspect; and 35-year-old Henry Igwe.
Sources within the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), headed by Barrister Peretimi Judith Peterside, disclosed that the suspects will be arraigned before Justice Raphael Ajuwa of High Court 5.
According to the charge sheet sighted by our correspondent, the suspects, under suit number BYHC/YHC/CR/19/2026, will face charges bordering on alleged conspiracy to commit kidnapping, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit murder, murder, conspiracy to obtain money under false pretence, conspiracy to destroy evidence, destruction of evidence, and illegal possession of firearms, among other offences.
It was further gathered that despite repeated correspondence from the Bayelsa State Police Command to the Nigerian Correctional Service, authorities of the service are yet to acknowledge the existence of a personnel identified as Ekiamene Amaoniye Alex, also known as “Cash Money,” who was alleged to be attached to the Okaka Medium Security Custodial Centre.
According to the charge sheet, Alex is specifically accused of illegal possession of firearms and conspiracy to destroy evidence.
Part of the charge reads that Ekiamene Amaoniye Alex and others currently at large allegedly dealt in, aided, procured, and received one AK-47 rifle, described as a prohibited firearm, from Henry Victory Bernard without a valid licence issued by the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, Queen Felix, the sister of the prime suspect, is also expected to face charges of alleged forgery and falsification of a deed of conveyance relating to a parcel of land located in Otuoke, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
She is accused of presenting the document to a police formation as proof of ownership of the land during an investigation conducted at the Special Enquiry Bureau office of the Nigeria Police Force.
