Mrs Briggs, a mother of two, alleged that her husband was killed by some suspected land grabbers led by one Mr Joel during a fight at his office, adding that the latter issued an eviction letter to the deceased that he had encroached on community land.
Mrs Briggs disclosed this while speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt on Thursday.
The widow however said the land was sold to her late husband by the Chairman of Eleluama community in Port Harcourt.
She explained that the prime suspect came with some people and started fighting her husband, saying residents came out to separate the fight to no avail.
She stated, “This Joel came to my husband’s office with some people to engage in a fight. It was a serious fight and people came out to separate the fight. That was all.
“The next thing, Joel said you held my shirt right. I am coming for you. The next thing he called the guys (people). They were just pursuing my husband. People ran away.
“Even when he was running, he quickly picked up his cell phone and called the police. He was on a call with a policeman shouting they want to kill me, they are pursuing me. And they hit him at a spot.
“They hit him on his head. He was unconscious and they threw him inside the water, near the community.”
The distraught woman said Mr Joel who was arrested and standing trial in the Magistrate Court over the alleged murder of her husband was later released by the magistrate while the investigation was still ongoing.
“All I need is justice for my late husband. Nobody has the right to take the lift of another person under the law. My husband cannot die like that,” the widow stated.
When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko said she had yet to get a report of the incident.
She however said since the matter was in court, justice would be done there.
