Five To Die Through Lethal Injection For Murder
Five individuals were on Monday convicted and sentenced to death by a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt for the murder of Umezuruike Alex, the Onelga Security Peace Advisory Committee, OSPAC, commander of Omudioga community in Emohua Local Government Area of the state.
The convicts, Okechukwu Orji from the Atali community in Obio-Akpor LGA, Igwe Promise, Iheanyi Igwe, Morrison Igwe, all from Omudioga in Emohua Local Government Area, and Goodness Monday from Akwa-Ibom State, were convicted on charges including conspiracy, cultism, murder and illegal possession of firearms
OSPAC is a local vigilante group that resides in some communities in different local government areas of Rivers State.
However, the sixth defendant, Alex Deiwe, was acquitted by the trial Judge, Justice Sika Aprioku.
Justice Aprioku affirmed that the prosecution, led by Essein Edet, proved its case against the five convicts.
Following the conviction, the judge sentenced the convicts to death by hanging, or administration of a lethal injection until confirmed dead.
The court emphasized that the convicted individuals not only murdered the OSPAC commander but were also involved in kidnapping and other criminal activities across the state before their arrest and prosecution.
