A High Court in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, has sentenced three men to death by hanging for their roles in the kidnapping and killing of a pharmacist in Khana Local Government Area of the state.
The verdict was delivered on Friday by Justice Augusta Chukwu of the Rivers High Court after years of legal proceedings.
The court found the three defendants guilty of conspiracy, cultism, kidnapping and murder connected to the tragic killing of the victim, identified as Muenalo Sunday.
Those condemned to death are Confidence Kirinee, popularly known as General Ilia, Precious Mona and Soniabari Sagha.
Another accused person, Loveday Legah, received a life sentence after the court found him guilty of belonging to a secret cult group whose activities contributed to the killing.
The case, which attracted significant attention across Rivers communities, centered on the violent killing of the pharmacist in Zaakpo community, located in Khana Local Government Area.
The prosecution told the Rivers High Court that the crime occurred on March 5, 2019, when the victim was abducted and later murdered by members of the cult group.
During the trial, prosecutors presented several pieces of evidence, including statements made by the suspects, witness testimonies and other materials linking the defendants to the crime.
According to the Rivers prosecution team, the suspects belonged to the Iceland cult group, a secret cult known for violent activities in parts of the state.
Justice Chukwu explained in her ruling that the prosecution successfully established that the three condemned men worked together to plan and carry out the crime.
The court noted that the evidence presented clearly showed that the defendants conspired to kidnap the pharmacist before eventually killing him.
The Rivers court also heard disturbing details about how the crime was carried out.
Evidence showed that after killing the victim, the attackers mutilated his body by removing his head and other vital parts. His remains were later dumped inside a pit in a secluded location.
Further testimony revealed that the severed head was allegedly taken to a shrine hidden in a bush within a nearby community. Investigators said the shrine was believed to be connected to cult activities in the area.
Justice Chukwu said the confessional statements made by the suspects, along with other supporting evidence, convinced the court that the defendants were directly responsible for the crime.
She therefore ruled that Confidence Kirinee, Precious Mona and Soniabari Sagha should be executed by hanging until confirmed dead.
However, the Rivers High Court gave Loveday Legah a different sentence.
While he was not found to have participated directly in the killing, the court ruled that he was guilty of belonging to the cult group associated with the crime. For this reason, he was sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.
After the judgment was delivered, lawyers representing the convicted men declined to speak with journalists about the outcome of the case.
The prosecuting counsel, Precious Ordu, who serves as a Chief State Counsel with the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, expressed satisfaction with the ruling.
Speaking to reporters shortly after the judgment, he commended the Rivers High Court for what he described as a thorough and well-considered decision.
Ordu explained that the case had taken several years to conclude and involved extensive legal work.
According to him, the judgment represents justice not only for the deceased but also for his family members who had endured years of pain while awaiting the outcome.
He added that the Rivers court carefully reviewed the evidence and applied the law appropriately in reaching its decision.
“This judgment shows that the justice system is capable of delivering accountability,” he said, noting that the ruling would restore confidence in the judiciary among members of the public.
Ordu further stated that the conclusion of the trial brought a sense of closure to the victim’s family, who had feared that the case might drag on indefinitely.
Meanwhile, the widow of the slain pharmacist, Pretty Neewa-Sunday, reacted emotionally to the court’s decision. She expressed gratitude that justice had finally been served after years of uncertainty.
According to her, the verdict would allow her late husband to rest peacefully. She insisted that he was an innocent man who had done nothing to deserve the violent fate that befell him.
Neewa-Sunday also shared the personal challenges she has faced since losing her husband. She revealed that she lives with sickle cell disease and relied heavily on her husband for care and support during health crises.
The Rivers widow explained that her husband had been deeply involved in helping her manage the condition and providing emotional strength during difficult times.
She said his death had left a painful void in her life and forced her to face the reality of becoming a widow much earlier than she ever imagined.
Despite the hardship, she said the judgment from the Rivers High Court brought some measure of relief, knowing that those responsible for her husband’s death had been held accountable under the law.
Ireport247news
