A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced three persons to death by hanging for their involvement in the killing of a pharmacist in Khana Local Government Area of the state, Truth Live News International reports.
The convicts Confidence Kirinee, popularly known as General Ilia, Precious Mona, and Soniabari Sagha were found guilty of conspiracy, cultism, kidnapping and the murder of the victim, Muenalo Sunday, who was from Zaakpo community.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Augusta Chukwu ruled that the prosecution successfully established its case against the trio for their roles in the crime committed on March 5, 2019.
The court also handed Loveday Legah a life sentence after finding him guilty of belonging to the secret cult group linked to the killing.
Justice Chukwu held that evidence presented before the court, including confessional statements, showed that the defendants, who were members of the Iceland secret cult, conspired to abduct and murder the pharmacist.
The judge further stated that after killing the victim, the suspects allegedly cut off his head and other sensitive organs before dumping his remains in a pit, while the head was reportedly taken to their shrine in a bush located in a neighbouring community.
Based on the findings, the court ordered that Confidence Kirinee, Precious Mona, and Soniabari Sagha be hanged by the neck until they are confirmed dead, while Loveday Legah would spend the rest of his life in prison.
Counsel to the convicts declined to speak with journalists after the judgment.
However, Chief State Counsel at the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Precious Ordu, who prosecuted the case, praised the ruling and described it as justice served.
He said, “The judgment today is a good one. We commend the judge for a thorough work. It has been a hectic one from when we started till date.”
Ordu added, “We really thank God that the matter has come to an end. We have done our part and today the judge in her wisdom has convicted the four defendants for conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and cultism.”
He further said the outcome would restore confidence in the justice system for the victim’s family.
According to him, “It will restore hope to my client, who before now thought she would not get justice from the judiciary.”
He continued, “Today I’m sure she is happy and even the dead is also happy that justice has also been secured on his behalf, notwithstanding that he was brutally killed. He will also rest wherever he is today.”
Reacting to the judgment, the widow of the slain pharmacist, Pretty Neewa-Sunday, who disclosed that she lives with sickle cell disease, said the ruling would finally allow her late husband’s soul to rest.
She said, “They have reaped what they sowed because they killed my husband who did not commit any offence.”
She added, “My pain is that I have sickle cell disease and only my husband knew how to care for me. Today I have become a widow that neither my husband nor I planned for.”
