Rape & Manslaughter Trial: Delta High Court Orders Prosecution To File Witness Statements
Favour Agbro Death: Odogwu Asaba Pleads Not Guilty as Trial Moves Forward
IFEANYI Ogbonna, the content creator widely known as “Odogwu Asaba,” has denied charges of rape and manslaughter arising from the death of 20-year-old Favour Agbro.
Appearing before Justice Michael Nduka Obi of the Delta State High Court in Asaba on Wednesday 21 October 2026, Ogbonna pleaded not guilty to the charges. His plea now leaves the prosecution with the task of presenting evidence to substantiate its case.
Meanwhile, the court has fixed 28 October for the next hearing after directing the state to file witness depositions within seven days.
Prosecution Prepares Its Case
The prosecution team comprises Omamuzo Erebe, SAN, Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Ministry of Justice; Ugochukwu Okolotu, Principal State Counsel; and Awele Ideal, counsel for the nominal complainant.
Following the court’s directive, the prosecution is expected to take the necessary procedural steps towards presenting its witnesses. Nevertheless, the allegations must be established through evidence, rather than treated as proven simply because charges have been filed.
Moreover, the defendant retains the right to challenge the prosecution’s evidence and present his defence as the trial progresses.
What Investigators Allegedly Uncovered
The case centres on events reportedly involving Agbro, who allegedly travelled from Ughelli to Asaba on 1 June 2026, after Ogbonna offered to train her in content creation.
According to the allegations, Ogbonna took her to a hotel, where she experienced physical and sexual assault. The circumstances surrounding her subsequent death have since become the subject of criminal proceedings.
However, the allegations have yet to be established in court. The prosecution must therefore present evidence capable of supporting the charges, while the court must evaluate the material before it impartially.
Arrest, Bail Denial & Remand
Authorities arrested Ogbonna in July 2026. Later, on 15 September, the court denied him bail.
He was subsequently remanded at the Ogwashi-Uku Maximum Correctional Centre following the release of autopsy and toxicology reports relating to Agbro’s death.
Although these developments form part of the case’s procedural history, they do not, on their own, establish criminal responsibility. The court must determine the significance of the evidence presented during the trial.
October 28 Hearing to Determine Next Steps
The proceedings are scheduled to resume on 28 October 2026. At that hearing, the prosecution is expected to advance its case following the court’s order on witness depositions.
As the matter moves forward, the central question will be whether the prosecution can prove the charges against Ogbonna to the standard required by law. The defence will also have the opportunity to respond to the evidence in accordance with due process.
For now, the not-guilty plea means that the charges remain contested. The court’s eventual decision must rest on the evidence and applicable law, while the defendant continues to enjoy the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
