3rd May, 2024
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced a woman Mrs. Telma Bestman and one Wilson Okelekele to death by hanging for conspiring to kill Telma’s husband Bestman Wagbara.
Telma was charged with conspiring with their security guard Wilson Okelekele to kill her husband Bestman Wagbara at their residence along Saint John’s axis of Rumuolumeni Ogbogoro road on 20th February 2020.
In her judgement, Justice Augusta Chukwu held that the prosecution was able to prove the case of conspiracy and murder against the convicts.
The court also held that the evidence revealed that Mrs. Telma opened the door for Mr. Okelekele, to enter the room and murder her husband on the fateful day.
Counsel to the Rivers State Government, Precious Odu, who spoke with journalists after the judgement
“We are happy. They can’t eat their cake and have it. They cannot just kill an innocent, full-fledged man and expect to go scot-free. No, the law does not allow that. So we are happy that the judgement went this way. We expected it,” he said.
Also, Ubogenkere Amadi, Counsel to Wilson Okelekele, said they would appeal the judgment as they were not satisfied.
“Naturally, we’ll appeal the judgement as we are not satisfied. We will study the judgement, and definitely appeal,” he said.
Our Correspondent reports that the case has been ongoing for the past four years. The convicts are to remain in jail awaiting the hangman’s noose.