19th March, 2024
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday convicted and sentenced five people to death by hanging or or lethal injection until they are confirmed dead for the murder of one Umezuruike Alex.
Those convicted and sentenced to death are: Okechuwu Orji from the Atali community in Obio-Akpor, Igwe Promise, Iheanyi Igwe Morrison Igwe all from Omudioga in Emohua Local Government Area and Goodness Monday from Akwa Ibom.
They were found guilty of ten counts charge of conspiracy, cultism, murder and illegal possession of firearms.
The trial Judge, Justice Sika Aprioku in his judgment, discharge and acquitted the sixth defendant in the suit, Alex Deiwe.
Justice Aprioku held that the prosecution counsel, Essien Edet proved his case against the other five convicts on charges of conspiracy, cultism, illegal possession of firearms and murder.
The court also held that the convicts did not only murder the Umezuruike Alex who was OSPAC commander in Omudioga community, but were also involved in kidnapping and other criminal activities in parts of the state before their arrest and commencement of prosecution.
Speaking to Journalists outside the courtroom, the prosecution counsel, Essien Edet, who is the Officer in charge of legal annex , Rivers State Police command, expressed happiness over the judgment which he described as justice well served and will also serve as deterrent to others who are involved in such crimes.
It will be recalled that the late Omudioga OSPAC commander, Umezuruike AlexL was in the year, 2021, killed, beheaded while other parts of his body were dismembered by cultists for fighting against criminals in the area.