Nigerian bigamist remains in custody

week when the court is expected to rule on his bail application.
Kelechi Ofoajoku, who was married to a South African, wedded Catherine Tsitsi Kadzenga and Meshia Chikaka on March 2, 2005.
Ofoajoku is being charged with bigamy and entering marriages of convenience. Mr Archie Wochiunga rema-nded Ofoajoku in custody to May 26 for bail ruling following a bail application by his lawyer Mr Gift Nyandoro.
Mr Nyandoro applied for Ofoajoku’s release saying he was a suitable candidate for bail.
He said that he did not know about the marriage with Kadzenga since the signature on the marriage certificate was allegedly forged. He further argued that he was being persecuted by the State and the immigration officials in a bid to deport him. However, prosecutor Mr Desire Chidanire-Mupudzi opposed bail saying Ofoajoku was a flight risk. Mr Mupudzi said Ofoajoku had supplied the court with two non-existent Bulawayo addresses.
Ofoajoku yesterday supplied the State with a Greencroft address in Harare, which the prosecution said needed verification.
Mr Mupudzi said Ofoajoku had already breached Statutory Instrument 195 0f 1998 (42) (2) of immigration regulations, which state that if a foreigner changes his/her address, he should notify immigration authorities.
Ofoajoku, who is allegedly married to a South African, wedded Kadzenga and Chikaka on March 2, 2005.
It is alleged that Ofoajoku entered into the two marriages of convenience in a bid to continue staying in Zimbabwe. Ofoajoku, it is alleged, was issued with a resident permit on January 19, 2007, which was valid for a year on the basis that he was married to Kadzenga. He was arrested on April 13 this year on suspicion of being an illegal immigrant but was released after Chikaka contested the detention on the grounds of being married to him.
Chikaka is reported to have produced a marriage certificate to prove her marriage to Ofoajoku.
The Immigration Department verified and discovered that Ofoajoku was also married to Kadzenga (Marriage Certificate number 552/05 under the Marriages Act Chapter 5:11) on March 2 2005, it is alleged.
The State further alleges that Ofoajoku wedded for the second time on the same day (March 2, 2005) and marriage certificate number 587/05 was issued.
Police Investigations revealed that Ofoajoku was married to another woman, a South African, according to a residence permit reference number SPR/11/12022/08 issued in terms of the South African Act section 10 of Act Number 13 2002.