BY ONORIODE ETATSEMI
THE Delta State High Court sitting at Ibusa, Oshimili North Local Government Area and presided over by Honourable Justice M. Omovie has convicted and sentenced three to death for the murder of late Obi of Ubulu- Uku, His Royal Majesty, Obi Edward Akaezue Ofulue III.
The defendants, Suleiman Musa (male), Umar Mohammed (male) and Garba Abubakar Haruna aka Dogo (male), were alleged to have committed the offence on January 16, 2016.
The three defendants were arraigned before the court on multiple counts of kidnapping, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, as well as conspiracy to commit murder and the murder of the royal father, Obi Edward Akaezue Ofulue III.
The court also convicted and sentenced one Jemilu Ahmed (male), who was found with the monrch’s handset, for receiving a stolen property.
The prosecuting team from the Delta State Ministry of Justice, led by Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Anthony Orhorhoro, called five witnesses to prove their case.
The witnesses included Pastor Charles Afamefuna Ugboh, Principal Witness 3, who was kidnapped alongside the late monarch, although he survived the incident. He gave eye witness evidence of how they were kidnapped at gun point by the defendants and his eventual escape from their custody. In her judgement, the trial judge held that the prosecution proved its case against the defendants beyond reasonable doubt. The court then sentenced the three for the murder of Obi Edward Akaezue Ofulue III to death by hanging.
The court also sentenced the first defendant to 14 years imprisonment without an option of fine for receiving the property stolen from the deceased monarch.
It would be recalled that the late monarch was kidnapped along Ubulu Uku/Obior road alongside Pastor Afamefuna Ugboh and held in captivity. His corpse was later found in the bush days after.
