Missing Anambra billionaire estate developer: His business partner broke news of his missing to me - Wife tells court.

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By Madu Obi

The high profile case of the missing Anambra billionaire estate developer, Mr. Benjamin Ezemma, came up at the State High Court sitting in Awka on Tuesday, with his wife, Mrs Tochukwu Benedicta Ezemma, informing the court that it was her husband's business partner, one Chukwudi Ezenwa, that broke the news of her husband's missing to her.

Ezemma, the cofounder of the high brow Dubai Estate, Awka and father of three, has been missing since August 12, 2024.

Three persons, Ozo Jeff Nweke, Tochukwu Nwokoye Nwosu, and David Chukwuemeka Chukwunonso are facing trial in suit No. A1 /2c/2025, for allegedly kidnapping Ezemma.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel and Assistant Director in the office of the Attorney General of Anambra State Ministry of Justice, Mrs P. N. Ofomah, Mrs Ezenma told the court that she spoke last with her husband at about 5.33pm on 12th November, 2024 on a video call, during which he told her that he was going to attend a meeting with one "Mr Loco" in Awka.

According to her, since then, her husband has been missing.

She told the court that although she was living with her husband and children at City Escape Estate, Guzape, Abuja, her husband carried on his real estate business in Awka, Anambra State, with his business partner, Mr. Ezenwa.

She said that while speaking with her husband through the video call, he told her not to bother calling him again because such meetings normally last very late into the night and that her next call would be the following day, being 13th November, 2024.

She said: "My husband's business partner, Mr. Ezenwa called me at about 10am the following morning -13th November, 2024 - and asked me if I had spoken with her husband since 8am that day.

I told him no, and immediately, I started dialling my husband's phone number, but discovered to my shock that the phone was switched off.

It was at that point that I became worried. Our family members later that day went to the Department of State Service (DSS) and lodged a report that my husband was missing."

Speaking under cross-examination by Alex Ejesieme, SAN, the counsel to the first defendant, Ozo Jeff Nweke, she said that except the first defendant, whom her husband had always mentioned his name to her, she did not know any of the other two accused persons.

She also told the court that she had told the DSS in her statement that for two years, her husband had a business disagreement with his partner, Mr. Ezenwa over sharing formula of their estate business proceeds, but that they have resolved it since two years ago.

She said further that apart from the disagreement her husband earlier had with Ezenwa over sharing formula which they later resolved, he also had issues pertaining to the land with the people of Awka and the neighbouring Enugwu-Agidi.

The court session attracted a large presence of security operatives, including the Police, the DSS and Civil Defense.

The presiding judge, Justice Ike Ogu later adjourned the case to 30th of April, and 2nd of May, 2025, respectively for continuation of hearing.