By Iruoma Douglas, Port Harcourt
After ten years of legal battle, a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, has sentenced to death three persons for the murder of a former militant, Soboma George and a groundnut seller, Joy John-Ejims, in the township axis of Port Harcourt.
The three, Dougbra Ogbe, Emmanuel Gladstone and Bere Matthew., were convicted on three counts bordering on conspiracy and murder of George and John-Ejims in 2010.
In his judgement on Thursday, which lasted for over two hours, Justice George Omereji condemned the convicts to death by hanging and directed that they be tied on their neck till they are confirmed dead.
The Judge held that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubts, especially with the evidence of an eyewitness, Emmanuel Eniete, who also picked a bullet used during the attack that led to the death of George.
The trial Judge noted that evidence and testimonies of the witness had proven that the defendants actually committed the crime as charged.
Omereji pointed that among other confessional statements by the defendants, the confessional statement that they killed George because he wanted to kill them after they refused to kill the former Governor of Rivers State, Chibuike Amaechi and then Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, further indicted them.
However, the prosecution counsel, Ipalibo Karibo-Botoye, after the proceeding, expressed happiness that 10 years of prosecution, justice had come to stay.
He commended the court for giving George and John-Ejims justice, noting that he was ready to defend his case further at appeal court.
Karibo-Botoye, “We are happy that ten years after the murder of George justice has come to stay. It is a thing of joy that the court saw that we proved our case. If they go on appeal we are ready to defend this case to logical conclusion.”
