A Benue court remanded former councillor Daniel Ujah in prison for allegedly attacking an elderly woman and throwing her into a fire.
A former local government councillor in Benue State, Daniel Ujah, has been sent to prison by a magistrate’s court. The court decision was handed down on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, in Otukpo.
The magistrate judge ordered police officers to lock up the politician inside the Otukpo Correctional Centre after he was brought to court over serious allegations that he attacked and severely hurt an elderly woman in her village.
The main reason why the former local leader was sent to prison is that police officers charged him with serious crimes, including trying to take a person’s life, forcefully entering someone’s compound, threatening to kill, and using physical force to inflict painful injuries on a woman.
According to the official police paper read in court, the troubling incident happened on August 28, 2026, at Akwutulo village in the Awume area of Ohimini Local Government Area.
Police officers alleged that the former councillor walked into the compound of an elderly woman named Amina Iduh, beat her up, and pushed her body directly into a burning fire.
The fire burnt her clothes and caused deep injuries to her body. Neighboring villagers quickly ran to help the injured woman and rushed her to a hospital in Onyagede town, where medical doctors are still treating her painful burns.
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When the charges were read out loud inside the courtroom, the former politician said he did not commit the crimes. His personal lawyer asked the judge to release him on bail so he could go home while waiting for his trial.
However, the police lawyer strongly asked the court to reject the bail request because of the serious nature of the physical attack.
Reading out the court decision after listening to both sides, the presiding magistrate judge ordered that the accused man must stay behind bars until the proper legal checks are completed.
Setting the next court date for the case, Magistrate Hasia Garuba ordered that “Ujah will remain in custody at the Otukpo Correctional Centre pending further proceedings,” while adjourning the matter “until September 22, 2026, for further mention”. Police officers will present their full witness evidence when the court reconvenes later in the month.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
