A disturbing case of false accusation and domestic deceit has emerged in Enugu, where a 29-year-old woman, Chisom Okonkwo, is standing trial for allegedly fabricating claims that her husband, Ozioma Okonkwo, defiled their two daughters aged two and five. The case, now before the Enugu Magistrate Court, has drawn public outrage and sparked conversations about the devastating consequences of false sexual allegations within families.
According to court documents obtained by this newspaper, Chisom Okonkwo was charged by the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, on two counts of defamation and giving false information to law enforcement authorities. The charges stemmed from an incident that occurred in August 2024 and another in October 2025, in which the accused allegedly sought to destroy her husband’s reputation and subject him to criminal prosecution over false claims of child defilement.
The charge sheet, filed under the Enugu Magisterial District, reads in part:
“That you, Chisom Okonkwo ‘f,’ sometime in the month of August 2024, along Adoration Junction, opposite Dan-Legal Hotel, Emene, Enugu, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did defame the character of one Okonkwo Ozioma ‘m,’ by shouting in the public that he defiled your two daughters, which has exposed him to hatred, contempt, ridicule and has damaged his reputation, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 323 and punishable under Section 325 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004.”
The second count alleges that on October 27, 2025, at the State Intelligence Department (SID), Enugu, the defendant gave false information to police detectives, claiming that her husband had sexually assaulted their two daughters — allegations she knew to be false.
“You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 154(1)(a) & (b) of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Vol. II, Revised Law of Enugu State of Nigeria, 2004,” the charge added.
According to preliminary investigations, the drama began when Chisom reported to the police that her husband had repeatedly defiled their two daughters. The allegation led to the immediate arrest of Mr. Ozioma Okonkwo, who was detained by officers of the State Intelligence Department in Enugu.
The shocking nature of the accusation — that a father could violate his own daughters — sent waves of outrage through their community in Emene, with many calling for justice for the children. However, what unfolded after medical examinations and thorough investigation by the police left many stunned.
Medical experts at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, who conducted examinations on the two girls, reportedly found no evidence of sexual assault or penetration. The findings contradicted Chisom’s initial report and prompted investigators to dig deeper into her motives.
During interrogation, multiple sources allege that Chisom confessed to fabricating the story “to teach her husband a lesson.” According to investigators familiar with the case, she admitted that her false report was an act of revenge following a domestic misunderstanding.
“She said she wanted to teach him a significant life lesson,” a police source told reporters on condition of anonymity. “But in doing so, she not only ruined her husband’s name but also risked traumatizing her children and wasting police resources.”
Further investigation reportedly uncovered a troubling dimension to the case — allegations that Chisom had been involved in an illicit affair with her landlord’s son. According to community witnesses, her alleged relationship with the young man had been ongoing for several months before the false accusation against her husband.
The source claimed that after a domestic disagreement with her husband over the affair, Chisom allegedly decided to fabricate the story of defilement to destroy his credibility and create an excuse to continue her adulterous relationship without interference.
“She wanted to be free from her marriage and continue her shameful relationship with her landlord’s son,” said one of the investigators. “So, she framed her husband for a heinous crime — something that could have destroyed his life forever.”
Residents of the area expressed disgust over the revelations, describing the act as “heartless and wicked.”
One neighbour, who identified herself as Mrs. Onah, said: “We were all shocked when she accused her husband of defiling their daughters. People were crying and condemning the man. Now to hear that she lied — it’s unbelievable. This kind of woman is dangerous. She nearly destroyed her family.”
For Mr. Ozioma Okonkwo, the ordeal was both humiliating and traumatizing. Following his arrest, he was reportedly detained for several days while undergoing intense interrogation. His name was dragged through the mud as neighbours and relatives distanced themselves from him.
According to friends of the family, the stigma of being labeled a child molester was devastating. “He was heartbroken,” one of them said. “He kept saying he could never do such a thing to his own daughters. The accusation alone almost ruined his life.”
Only after the medical and police reports cleared him of wrongdoing did the tide begin to turn. Upon confirmation that the allegations were false, the police rearrested Chisom and charged her with defamation and providing false information to law enforcement.
When the case came up before the Magistrate Court in Enugu, the prosecution alleged that Chisom’s actions not only violated the law but also undermined public trust in genuine reports of sexual abuse. Legal experts have described the case as a clear example of how false accusations can damage lives and weaken the fight against gender-based violence.
A senior lawyer who spoke on the matter said: “While the law must always protect victims of sexual assault, it must also be firm against anyone who abuses that protection for malicious or vengeful purposes. False allegations like this make it harder for real victims to be believed.”
The Enugu Police Command confirmed that the case would be pursued to its logical conclusion, emphasizing that justice must be served to deter similar acts of malicious accusation.
The story has since generated intense public reaction across Enugu State and beyond. Many social commentators have condemned Chisom’s alleged actions as “the height of wickedness.” Others called for stricter penalties for individuals who make false claims of sexual abuse.
Some women’s rights advocates, while condemning the alleged deceit, also urged caution against generalizing or weaponizing the case to discredit legitimate claims by real victims of abuse.
“It’s important that this case be treated as an individual act of wrongdoing,” one activist said. “False allegations are rare, but when they occur, they must be addressed firmly — not to silence women, but to preserve the integrity of justice.”
The Okonkwo family remains deeply shaken. Neighbours report that the couple’s children are now in the temporary care of relatives while authorities determine the next steps. Community elders have described the situation as a tragic example of how deceit and infidelity can destroy the foundation of a family.
“Marriage is built on trust,” said a community leader in Emene. “Once a woman can go this far to ruin her husband’s life, it shows how far moral decay has gone in our society. What she did was not only a lie but a betrayal of motherhood.”
As the case continues in the Enugu Magistrate Court, many are calling for justice — not only for Mr. Ozioma Okonkwo, who endured humiliation and public disgrace, but also for the young daughters who were used as pawns in their mother’s alleged revenge plot.
The incident serves as a chilling reminder of how destructive false allegations can be. It has reignited calls for stronger legal and psychological interventions in domestic disputes, and for the public to exercise caution before rushing to judgment in sensitive cases.
