An Indian court has denied bail to a 48-year-old Nigerian national accused of killing a fellow Nigerian during an alleged altercation over a woman in Pune.
Additional Sessions Judge S D Kulkarni of the Pune court dismissed the bail application filed by Nnaemeka Maduabuchi Onyia last week, citing the evidence gathered by investigators and concerns that he could flee the country if released.
According to The Times of India, the court found that investigators had gathered sufficient material linking Onyia to the alleged offence.
The case followed the death of 40-year-old Emeka Christian Orji, who police said was assaulted during a dispute at a Nigerian woman’s flat in Pisoli, Pune, in the early hours of January 12, 2026.
Police alleged that the dispute was connected to a romantic relationship involving the woman.
Christian was taken to Ruby Hall Clinic after the alleged assault but died while receiving treatment.
Police subsequently registered a murder case against three Nigerian nationals. Onyia and another suspect were arrested, while the third accused remained at large, according to the prosecution.
Onyia was arrested on January 12 after a case was registered at Kalepadal police station under Sections 103(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Section 4(25) of the Arms Act, and Sections 37(1) and 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act.
Police have since filed a charge sheet in the case. However, no prosecution witness had testified when the court considered Onyia’s bail application.
In rejecting the application, the judge noted that Onyia was named in the first information report as one of the alleged attackers.
The court also considered witness statements alleging that Onyia took a sharp weapon from the kitchen, followed Christian and attacked him on vital parts of his body.
Medical records presented to the court reportedly showed that Christian sustained multiple chop wounds.
The judge also considered a statement from the informant concerning an alleged statement made by Christian before his death.
After considering the alleged evidence, the seriousness of the charges and the possibility that Onyia could flee to Nigeria, the court declined to grant him bail.
