EXCLUSIVE: Ebonyi Judge Accused Of Bias As Student Remains Detained Since 2024 Over Custody Battle Involving Late PDP Chieftain’s Daughter
Sources familiar with the case told SaharaReporters in an exclusive interview on Thursday that the controversial arrest of a 200-level student of Ebonyi State University, ThankGod Nwigboji, was allegedly linked to a bitter custody battle between Mrs. Susan Ogechi Udeogu and her estranged husband, Mr. Emmanuel Chinedu.
Fresh allegations have emerged against a judge of the Ebonyi State judiciary, accusing her of bias and abuse of judicial powers in a prolonged child custody dispute that has left a university student in detention since August 2024.
Sources familiar with the case told SaharaReporters in an exclusive interview on Thursday that the controversial arrest of a 200-level student of Ebonyi State University, ThankGod Nwigboji, was allegedly linked to a bitter custody battle between Mrs. Susan Ogechi Udeogu and her estranged husband, Mr. Emmanuel Chinedu.
Susan is the daughter of the late chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Fred Udeogu.
According to the sources, the student was arrested on August 21, 2024, after he was allegedly caught in the middle of a dispute involving the couple’s children.
The dispute reportedly began when a High Court in Owerri issued an interim order granting custody of the children to the estranged husband.
However, the sources alleged that Susan Udeogu ignored the court order and instead mobilised operatives from the police Tiger Base unit to forcibly take the children.
They further claimed that efforts to secure the release of the detained student have repeatedly failed due to alleged political and judicial connections.
Central to the allegations is Justice Chinyere Ken Eze, a judge said to be handling aspects of the case and also identified by sources as the wife of Senator Kenneth Eze, who represents Ebonyi Central Senatorial District in Nigeria’s 10th National Assembly under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The sources alleged that Udeogu has been boasting about her influence over the Ebonyi State judiciary through the judge.
“Susan Ogechi Udeogu has been bragging that she has the judiciary of Ebonyi State in her hands and that she is using the judge to carry out all her shenanigans,” one source told SaharaReporters.
According to them, while the custody case remains ongoing before a court in Owerri, Udeogu allegedly filed a separate custody petition before Justice Chinyere Ken Eze’s court.
The sources claimed that during proceedings, the estranged husband was not properly served court documents.
They alleged that the email addresses and phone numbers provided by the petitioner for service were false.
“When the estranged husband got information from a reliable source and sent his lawyer to the court, it was confirmed that he was never served,” a source said.
Despite the objections and evidence reportedly presented by the defence, the judge allegedly ruled in favour of Udeogu.
The sources further alleged that Udeogu never filed a counter-affidavit responding to the documents submitted by her estranged husband.
Yet, according to them, the court dismissed the objections and proceeded with the matter.
The custody case resumed in Owerri on March 5, 2026, but sources claimed that Justice Eze allegedly declared during proceedings that she would still rule in favour of Udeogu regardless of the arguments presented.
“She openly said she would rule in Susan’s favour and that we could go to the Court of Appeal if we wanted,” one of the sources alleged.
The matter has now been adjourned until March 31, 2026.
Sources also alleged that lawyers representing the estranged husband have been intimidated during proceedings.
“Every lawyer sent to Ebonyi for this case is being attacked by Susan and Justice Chinyere Ken Eze, who keep saying it is a FIDA case and it must be in their favour,” one of the sources claimed.
They also raised a disturbing allegation that the eldest child involved in the custody dispute died while in the custody of Susan Udeogu, which they attributed to alleged negligence.
The development comes months after SaharaReporters reported in May 2025 that the detained student, ThankGod Nwigboji, had remained in prison despite claims that he played no role in the alleged abduction of the children.
The student was arrested and charged with conspiracy, abduction and child trafficking after allegedly assisting Emmanuel Chinedu during the attempt to retrieve his children.
Sources earlier told SaharaReporters that Udeogu had insisted the young man’s family must kneel and beg her before she would consider withdrawing the case.
“She keeps saying the family must come and kneel and beg her or else the boy will die in prison,” a source previously said.
Chinedu, the estranged husband, had also accused his former wife of using the justice system to punish the student despite knowing he was not involved.
According to him, CCTV footage showed that the student did not participate in taking the children.
Despite this, the student has remained in detention since August 2024, missing his university studies.
In a previous interview with SaharaReporters, Udeogu defended her actions, insisting that the student was involved in the incident and had made a confessional statement.
“It is true that the guy is currently facing trial and he is being detained legally. It is a lie that I’m framing him,” she said.
She also confirmed that she demanded the student’s family beg her before she would withdraw the case.
“I am asking his family to come and beg me, and if they can’t do that, I won’t withdraw the case,” she said.
