Late Rev Fr. Eyah: Wedded Couple Appeals To Gov Mbah Over Trumped-Up Murder Charge Against Their Benue Guest And OND Graduate

A newly wedded couple has appealed to Governor Peter Mbah to intercede on behalf of their innocent guest who was arrested and charged for the murder of late Rev Ft Matthew Eyah by the Enugu State police command.

The couple said that their guest and OND graduate of Banking and Finance from Ugbokolo Polytechnic in Benue State, Godwin Odeh, was arrested alongside two other suspects who were later released after after paying for their nails while Odey was charged for the murder of a Catholic priest, Rev Fr. Matthew Eya of Ugbaike Enugu Ezike. 

Both the couple and the family of the accused person, stated that their guest and son, Godwin, was returning to Abuja, after attending the wedding of his friend at Obollor Afor on September 20, 2025, when policemen arrested three persons including him over some quantities of Indian hemp discovered inside their vehicle and later charged him for both unlawful possession of Indian hemp and murder of the priest.

The letter of appeal to both the governor and the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, titled, "Appeal for Justice and Urgent Intervention: Re Arraignment of Innocent Nigerian Citizen For Murder of Late Rev Father Matthew Eya and Unlawful Possession of Indian Hemp in charge number MEN/566C /2025 And Urgent Appeal For Justice In Charge Number MEN/265/2025 read,  

"We write to you in respect of this matter on behalf of Godwin Odey, an OND graduate of Banking and Finance, Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo, Benue State, who was arrested by the police on September 20, 2025, while trying to board vehicle to Abuja.

"According to the uncle of the detainee, Hon. Alex Igwe of Ukputem Itogo, in Obi Local Government Area of Benue State, who visited our office in Enugu... Godwin Odey a young Nigerian struggling to make ends meet, was working as a Despatch Rider at IFEX Courier, Abuja, due to lack of employment. 

"Godwin Odey (who had not visited Enugu before) in company of some friends departed Abuja in the morning of 19th September 2025, to attend the wedding of their friend Mr. Morgan Paul Odeh who was getting married to Miss Loveth Chisom Ikechukwu of Ikechukwu Compound, Obollo-Afor, Udenu, Enugu State. 

"According to Alex Igwe, Godwin Odeh and his friends arrived Obollo around 5pm on 19th September 2025.

"The Traditional Marriage ceremony was held at the Ikechukwu Compound, Obollo-Afor, Udenu, Enugu State, on the Saturday 20th September 2025 . The wedding Invitation Card is attached herewith.

 "On that Saturday evening, while they wanted to take a night bus back to Abuja because of work imperatives. 

On their way from the village where they had the wedding to the Motor Park at Obolo, they were arrested by the Police on a random search for killer of a Reverend Father in that area. They were searched and marijuana was found in the vehicle in which they were travelling.

"Godwin Odey and two of his friends were arrested and the case was transferred to Enugu State Command. Two of his friends were granted bail.

"According to Godwin Odey family and friends, as he could not afford bail money, he was charged to court with people he never met before, for the killing of Rev Father Mathew Eya. The two Charge sheet namely Commissioner of Police V. Eze Obiora Charge No. MEN/566c/2025, and Commissioner of Police V. Eze Obiora Charge No. MEN/565c/2025, are attached to this letter.

'The family of Godwin Odey and the family of the newly wedded bride at Obollo wondered why the ,police should charge a guest who came alongside other guests straight to the wedding and was only heading back to his destination before the unlawful arrest which the police want to use to spoil the entire life of this young man whom they have placed a murder charge on his head.

"The pictures Godwin Odey, took with the other guests and video recording at the wedding are forwarded with this letter.

DEMAND/ ACTION SOUGHT:

"We demand an immediate and urgent action on this matter to ensure that no innocent citizen of this country is made to suffer for what he knows nothing about. The freedom of movement of all Nigerians is a constitutional right and the fact that a stranger is found in transit in a town where an offence has been committed the previous night does not make such person a criminal/ offender.

"We urge the state to urgently take action on this matter with a view to ensure that justice is done as the circumstances of this case demands and ensure unconditional release of Godwin Odey from Enugu Prison where he has been remanded."