A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted and sentenced five persons to death by hanging or by lethal injection until they are confirmed dead.
This verdict came following the involvement of the five convicts in the murder of the OSPAC Commander of Omudioga Community in Emohua Local Government Area of the state, Umezuruike Alex.
The victim late Umezuruike Alex was in 2021 killed, beheaded and as well other parts of his body dismembered by cultists for fighting against criminal activities in the area.
However, the police had commenced investigation into the killing and arrested 6 people in connection to the crime. Upon the arrested, police commenced their prosecution.
The convicts, Okechukwu Orji from Atali Community, Obio/Akpor LGA, Igwe Promise, Iheanyi Igwe, Morrison Igwe from Omudioga in Emohua LGA, and Goodness Monday from Akwa Ibom were found guilty on the ten counts of conspiracy, cultism, murder and illegal possession of firearms preferred against them by the police.
The trial Judge, Justice Sika Aprioku, in his judgment, however, discharged and acquitted the sixth defendant in the suit, Alex Deiwe.
Justice Aprioku ruled that the prosecution counsel, Essein Edet, proved his case against the five on conspiracy, cultism, illegal possession of firearms and murder.
He therefore convicted and sentenced them by hanging or by administration lethal injection until they die.
The court further held that the convicts did not only murder the Omudioga OSPAC commander, but that they were also involved in kidnapping and other criminal activities in parts of the state before their arrest and prosecution.
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