New Jersey Judge Convicts Man of Murdering Councillor

A New Jersey judge has convicted Rashid Ali Bynum of murder in connection with the death of Eunice Dwumfour, a Republican Councillor, earlier this year. Judge Joseph Paone of the Middlesex County Superior Court has scheduled the verdict announcement for August 18. Bynum faces a sentence of 30 years to life in prison.

Dwumfour made history as the first black member of the Sayreville City Council. According to Christian Onuoha, who served on the council with Dwumfour and was also a member of her church, Bynum was part of the congregation several years ago. Onuoha recalled, “She was his pastor around 2018. That was the last time we all remember seeing him.”

Bynum, who has a lengthy criminal record, has faced multiple allegations including fraud and theft dating back as far as 2013. He was also charged with firearm offenses in Virginia in 2015 and Maryland in 2019. In a related case from 2015, he pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed weapon illegally and received three years of probation.

The husband of Dwumfour, Peter Akwue—also known as Ezekings and a pastor based in Africa—has stated that she had no knowledge of Bynum.

Before her murder, Dwumfour was active in various community roles, working as an EMT and IT consultant, while also engaging with local churches and nonprofit organizations. She won her election in November 2021 as a newcomer, defeating incumbent Democrats.

Authorities discovered her body with multiple gunshot wounds in a white Nissan SUV around 7:30 PM on February 1, 2023. Initially, Bynum was arrested in late May at his home in Chesapeake, Virginia, before being extradited to New Jersey.