By Omolara Akintoye
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday convicted and sentenced five people to death by hanging or injecting them with lethal injection until they are confirmed dead for the murder of Umezuruike Alex.
Until his death, Alex was the Commander of ONELGA Security Peace and Advisory Council, popularly known as OSPAC in the Omudioga Community in Emohua Local Government Area of the state.
The convicts are : Okechukwu Orjj from 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 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, discharged and acquitted the sixth defendant in the suit, Alex Deiwe.
Justice Aprioku held that the prosecution counsel, Essein 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 OSPAC Commander of 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, Newdawnngr.com correspondent reports that the prosecution counsel, Essein Edet who is the Officer in charge of legal annex DFA, Rivers State Police command, expressed happiness over judgment which he described as justice well served and will also serve as deterrent to others who are involved in such crimes.
Recall that the late Omudioga OSPAC Commander, Umezuruike Alex was in the year, 2021, killed, beheaded and as well other parts of his body dismembered by cultists for fighting against criminals activities in the area.
