A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has handed down a verdict of death by hanging or lethal injection until confirmed dead for five individuals convicted of the murder of the OSPAC Commander of Omudioga Community in Emohua Local Government Area of the state, Umezuruike Alex.
The late Umezuruike Alex was killed, beheaded, and dismembered by cultists in 2021 due to his efforts against criminal activities in the area.
Following the investigation into the killing, the police arrested six individuals in connection with the crime and subsequently began prosecution.
The convicted persons, Okechukwu Orji from Atali Community, Obio/Akpor LGA, Igwe Promise, Iheanyi Igwe, Morrison Igwe from Omudioga in Emohua LGA, and Goodness Monday from Akwa Ibom, were found guilty on ten counts of conspiracy, cultism, murder, and illegal possession of firearms brought against them by the police.
In the judgment delivered by Justice Sika Aprioku, the sixth defendant in the case, Alex Deiwe, was discharged and acquitted.
Justice Aprioku ruled that the prosecution counsel, Essein Edet, successfully proved the case against the five defendants on charges of conspiracy, cultism, illegal possession of firearms, and murder.
The court also noted that the convicts were not only responsible for the murder of the Omudioga OSPAC commander but were also involved in kidnapping and various other criminal activities across parts of the state prior to their apprehension and subsequent prosecution.
