Justice M. Omovie of the Delta State High Court sitting in Ibusa has sentenced three men to death for the murder of His Royal Majesty, Obi Edward Akaelue Ofulue III, the late King of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom, in January 2016.
The convicts—Suleiman Musa, Umar Mohammed, and Garba Abubakar Haruna, also known as Dogo—were found guilty of committing the crime on January 6, 2016.
They were arraigned on multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, and conspiracy to commit murder, culminating in the killing of the royal father.
The court also convicted and sentenced one Jemilu Ahmed (m), who was found with the handset of the monarch for receiving stolen property.
Director of Public Prosecutions, State Ministry of Justice, Mr Anthony Orhorhoro, called 5 witnesses in proof of its case.
The witnesses included Pastor Charles Afamefuna Ugboh, PW3, who was kidnapped alongside the king but 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.
Justice Movie held that the prosecution proved its case against all the defendants beyond reasonable doubts.
Three defendants who carried out the kidnapping and murder of Obi Edward Akalue Ofilue 111 were to die by hanging.
The court also sentenced the 1st defendant to 14 years imprisonment with no option of fine for receiving stolen property of the deceased monarch.
It will be recalled that the monarch was kidnapped along the Obior road alongside Pastor Afamefuna Ugboh and held in captivity until his corpse was later found in the bush days after. (Nation)