A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced three persons to death by hanging for their roles in the kidnapping and murder of a pharmacist, Muenalo Sunday, in Khana Local Government Area of the state.
The trial judge, Justice Augusta Chukwu, handed down the death sentence on Friday to Confidence Kirinee, popularly known as General Illa, Precious Mona, and Soniabari Sagha after finding them guilty of conspiracy, cultism, kidnapping and murder.
In the same judgment, the court convicted Loveday Legah for membership of a secret cult group linked to the crime and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The judge also held that the prosecution had successfully established the charges against the convicts beyond reasonable doubt.
The court found that the accused persons, who were identified as members of the Iceland cult group, were responsible for the abduction and killing of the victim on March 5, 2019, in Zaakpo community, Khana LGA.
The judge relied on confessional statements and other evidence presented during the trial to conclude that the defendants acted in concert to kidnap and murder the pharmacist.
The court heard that the victim was killed and mutilated, with his head and other vital body parts removed before his remains were dumped in a pit, while the severed head was reportedly taken to a shrine in a bush in a neighbouring community.
Justice Chukwu consequently ordered that Kirinee, Mona and Sagha be executed by hanging until confirmed dead, while Legah is to spend the rest of his life in prison for his involvement in the cult activities that led to the crime.
Counsel to the convicts declined to comment on the verdict after the proceedings.
However, the prosecuting counsel, Precious Ordu, a Chief State Counsel in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, praised the judgment, describing it as âthoroughâ and âa demonstration that justice had been served.â
Reacting to the ruling, the widow of the deceased, Pretty Neewa-Sunday, expressed relief and satisfaction with the outcome, saying âthe judgment would help bring closure to the familyâ and allow the soul of her late husband to rest in peace.
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