The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mike Odiegwu

  • Tension in Bayelsa as police kill 17-year-old boy

    Tension in Bayelsa as police kill 17-year-old boy

    *Ijaw youths plan protest

    *Our first son was extra-judicially killed – family

    *He was killed in gun duel – police

    The police in Bayelsa State were, on Wednesday, embroiled in a case of alleged extra-judicial killing of a 17-year-old Ijaw youth, Master Innocent Kokorifa.

    Innocent, who hailed from Okpotuari community in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, was reportedly shot dead on August 18 by the Anti-Vice/Anti-Kidnapping squad of the police at Air Force Road, Yenagoa.

    The incident, which happened at about 11am on the fateful day, has pitted the police against, the deceased family, Ijaw youth groups and activists who accused the law enforcement agency of extra-judicial killing.

    The father of the deceased, Mr. Daniel Kokorifa, an officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), who broke down in tears while narrating the incident, said Innocent, his first child out of five children, was murdered in cold blood.

    He said the victim who was to turn 18 on September 9 was a peacemaker, a non-smoker who had no records of criminality.

    Narrating the incident, he said: “On August 18, I received a call from my wife that the police shot my first son, Innocent Kokorifa. I instructed my wife to go to police station at Ekeki to inquire about the condition and whereabouts of Innocent.

    “My wife later called to inform me that on getting to the station, she said ‘police shot my son’, but the police retorted ‘do not say police shot your son, so that police will investigate the matter for you’. They admonished and doctored her that if asked, she should say ‘bad boys shot her son’.”

    “When I heard this, I left Port Harcourt, where I work, by night bus and arrived Bayelsa at about 11pm the same day. I made efforts to locate the whereabouts and condition of my son to no avail because most police station l reported to claimed ignorance of the case”.

    Kokorifa said he went to the crime scene late in the night in company with some of his family members and on getting there he spotted blood stains on the ground.

    He said: “The next day, we returned to the same spot and met a woman who told us what really happened at the spot. The woman told us that men of the Anti-Vice squad came out and shot at an unarmed boy.

    “She insisted that the environment was peaceful and there was no cause for alarm until the police in Jeans and t-shirts came and shot the boy. When the boy fell down and became lifeless, the police prevented people from having a close look at the lifeless body.

    “They shielded the body of the deceased from onlookers and threw it into their van and zoomed off. After hearing this, I went to the office of Anti-Vice squad at Road Safety road to see the O/C Anti-Vice, but was told the O/C was not on seat and was advised to wait for the O/C”.

    After waiting in vain for the Officer Commanding Anti-Vice, Kokorifa said he went to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) where he was told by a doctor that a police team brought a lifeless body of a youth to the emergency unit on the fateful day.

    “I was told that the Emergency Unit rejected the body since it was already lifeless. I further went to the mortuary unit, where on enquiry, l was told by the mortuary attendant that a body was brought by members of the Anti-Vice squad.

    “I was told by the mortuary attendant that the police deposited money for the mortuary bill and signed the mortuary register at exactly 11:59am, about an hour after they killed him. The lifeless body of the deceased was brought out by the mortuary attendant and I identified it as my son.

    “I noticed that the deceased was hit by a bullet which perforated his oesophagus. On the day of the incident, my wife told me that Innocent left the house and went out to visit his aunt, Miss Gbasiemokumor Lucky who lives at the street adjacent to our  house”, he said.

    He further sobbed: “Innocent was a loving son, the kind of child every father would pray to have. He doesn’t smoke, neither does he keep friends or late night. He had no criminal record whatsoever and until his death, he was not of a questionable character.

    “He recently sat for the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) and he was awaiting his result before they killed him. We need justice. Killers of my son must be fished out and brought to justice”.

    But the police in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Butswat Asinim, said on the fateful day the squad went to an uncompleted building along Airforce Road to arrest a three-man notorious armed robbery gang.

    The statement said: “On sighting the police and in a frantic bid to escape, the robbers fired at the police, the Police returned fire, one of the suspects sustained a bullet injury, while the others escaped, abandoning one locally made single barrel pistol, one live cartridge, one expended cartridge and wraps of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.

    “The wounded suspect was arrested and taken to the Federal Medical Centre, for treatment, but died few hours later. The deceased suspect was later identified as one Innocent Kokorifa ‘m’ Efforts have been intensified to arrest the fleeing suspects. Investigation is ongoing”.

    But a human rights lawyer from the Faculty of Law, Uyo, Mr. Aluzu Augustine, who was following the matter said the police were economical with the truth.

    “It should be noted that the police did not mention where or who was being robbed at the time, before the police intervened.

    “The locus in quo (Okaka Estate) is purely a residential area. The O/C Anti-Vice did not state who made the distress call and what time the distress call was received by members of his team and they did not also say who the armed robbers were”.

    Investigations revealed that the human rights community and Ijaw youths were not in tandem with the explanations given by the police insisting that the teenager was killed without provocation.

    Irked by the development, the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Central Zone, was said to be planning a protest to occupy Yenagoa and demand justice for Innocent.

    The Treasurer of the zone, Mr. Ebikade Ekerefe, the former Spokesman of IYC, Owoupele Jeremiah and Deputy Speaker of the IYC Parliament, Tare Porri and other stakeholders were said to be mobilising youths against the police.

  • Students groan as Dickson fails to reopen Bayelsa varsity

    Students groan as Dickson fails to reopen Bayelsa varsity

    Three students, lecturer lose lives

    ASUU reduces demands, denies suspending action

    The Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, has failed to resolve the ongoing industrial action involving all categories of workers at the only state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU) five months after the institution was shut down.

    Investigations revealed that the closure of the institution has dealt deadly blows on the students and lecturers who are at the receiving end of idleness and economic hardship caused by non-payment of salaries.

    Lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other categories of workers commenced industrial action in April to protest the inability of the government to pay them salaries since January.

    The workers said having suffered to discharge their duties without salaries from January to April, they were no longer unable to cope with domestic pressure and cost of going to school for their lectures.

    ASUU declared work-to-rule, asked its members to stay at home pending when government would ameliorate their hardship by paying their backlog of salaries.

    But negotiations to resolve the conflict between the government and the workers were said to have met brick-walls following allegations by ASUU that the government instead of seriously tackling the issues resorted to blackmails to cow them.

    It was further learnt that while ASUU had reduced their terms demanding only two months salaries out of the four they earlier wanted, the government had yet to shift ground on its proposed 50 per cent salaries for two months.

    It was further learnt that within the period of the strike, three students and a lecturer of the university lost their lives in circumstances blamed on the action.

     

  • Bayelsa corps members protest unpaid allowance

    Bayelsa corps members protest unpaid allowance

    • Asks Dickson to pay state’s obligations
     Batch ‘A’ members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who passed out, yesterday, trooped to the streets of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to protest the state’s government inability to pay their transport allowances.
    It was gathered that the corps members took their grievances to the Government House after receiving their discharge certificates.
    But the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jonathan Obuebite, reportedly addressed the protesters.
    Obuebite said the government was zealous at promoting the interests of corps members in the state.
    He said their allowances would be paid in full adding that the money had been approved by the government.
    Also addressing the protesters, the Zonal Inspector, Ajike O. E assured them that their money would be given to them in cash by today at the zonal office Yenagoa.
    But of the corp members, Alfred Ivanson who served in Brass Local Government Area said he could not travel to reunite with his family because of the government’s inability to pay his N5000 transport allowance.
    He pleaded with Governor Seriake Dickson to pay all the allowances due for corps members to enable them go home
  • Police warn Dickson over refusal to swear-in elected members

    Police warn Dickson over refusal to swear-in elected members

    The Bayelsa State Police Command, yesterday, warned the Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr. Seriake Dickson, over the security implications of the refusal by the leadership of the state House of Assembly to swear-in three elected opposition members.
    The  Commissioner of Police, Peter Ogunyanwo, in a letter sent to the governor, dated April 11, said the action of the House led by its Speaker, Mr. Kombowei Benson, was capable of compounding the security threats in the state.
    Ogunyanwo’s concern was following a letter addressed to him by the affected three members-elect requesting for a police protection in a peaceful protest they planned to demand their immediate inauguration.
    Benson has refused to administer oaths of office on Watson Belemote of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), representing Brass Constituency 2; Gibson Munalayefa of the Labour Party for Ogbia constituency 2 and Gabriel Ogbara of African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Ogbia constituency 3.

    They were declared winners of their various constituencies four months ago by the Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    But the leadership of the House dominated by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ignored them and rather quickly inaugurated their party members who won their rerun elections in March.

    In the letter addressed to the governor, the police boss said: “The members-elect, Alfred Belemote (APGA, Brass 2), ‎Gabriel Ogbara (ADC, Ogbia 2) and Gibson Munalayefa (Labour Party,Ogbia 2) stated they were successful candidates in the state House of Assembly election held on 6th of June, 2015 but the leadership of the State House of Assembly has refused to swear them into office for normal legislative duties.
    “The trio also alleged that one Hon. Benson Kombowei of the PDP, whose election was just conducted on March 11th, 2016, was sworn into office immediately after winning election,wheras the same House has continuously denied them this right since 2015.
    “In view of the aforesaid development,the Bayelsa Police Command is appealing to your Excellency to prevail on the Hon. Speaker and entire leadership of the State House of Assembly to swear into office,the three honorable members in the interest of peace and justoce.
    “This is to prevent fresh  security ‎threat to the existing ones in Bayelsa State.It would also act as well as a demonstration and confirmation of your excellency’s large and accommodating heart.”
    The aggrieved members-elect in the request letter to the commissioner said they had planned to stage a peaceful protest on Tuesday next week.
    They said the move became imperative following the outright refusal of the House leadership to swear them in.
    They drew the attention of the police boss to the photocopies of their respective certificates of return issued them by the Independent National Electoral Commission following their victories in the court.
    They said in the letter dated April 7: “All efforts to effect our successful swearing in has remained futile, hence, the resolution to employ this peaceful/lawful path of expressing our displeasure”.

  • Bayelsa NLC, government reacts to plight of civil servants

    In his reaction, the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Bayelsa State, Mr. Ndiomu George-Diepre, said the congress was not happy with the development.

    Regretting the econonic situation in Nigeria, he begged the governor to pay the workers to enable them meet their personal and family obligations.

    He disclosed that the workers’ strength was about 45,000.

    George-Diepre said: “The Congress as usual is still on the struggle. Right now,  we are on the air, calling on the government to pay the unpaid salaries.

    “While we understand the economic situation in the country and how it also affects the states, we are still asking that the government should pay all the outstanding salaries of workers, particularly the pensioners and of course, the local government workers.

    There are also a lot of scams and ghost workers suspected in those areas, and the governor is saying he wants to do verification  and after that they will pay. But the Labour is saying that they should be paid because they have suffered for a long time.”

    But an official in the Governor’s office said Bayelsa State was not the only state that was owing salaries, saying that there are states owing between seven and eight months.

    The official,  who spoke in confidence said: “So, why is Bayelsa State so peculiar that journalists want to do a report on it.

    “The Federal Government is owing. You heard the Secretary to the Government of the Federation saying the FG is owing N6bn every month. Is that not scandalous for a nation like Nigeria? Is it no more newsworthy than workers resorting to begging? Check the fact, we are owing just three months.”

  • Troops recover 14 rifles from pirates, militants 

    Troops recover 14 rifles from pirates, militants 

    • Kill suspected pirates in a gun duel
    Troops of Joint Force, Operation Pulo Shield (OPS) have recovered 14 AK 47 rifles from gunmen suspected to be unrepentant militants and pirates operating in Bayelsa and Delta states.
    The troops also killed one of the suspected pirates whose gang engaged them in a gun duel at Idema community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.
    Confirming the incidents, the Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Col. Isa Ado said troops of Sector 2 were conducting cordon and search operation on April 9 when they encountered the gunmen.
     “The pirates engaged the troop in a gun battle before they were overpowered by the superior firepower of the troops which led to the death of one of the gunmen while others escaped with gunshot injuries.
    “One AK 47 rifle and two loaded magazines were recovered from the bandits along with nine mobile GSM telephones and three walkie talkies.  Four suspects were also arrested during the operation,” he said.
    Ado said the troops of Sector 2 also conducted raid operation at suspected militant camps in Gbarain community, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and recovered three AK 47 automatic rifles.
    He named other items recovered from the camps as Magnum Double Barrel Gun, 273 round of 7.62mm Special, seven empty magazines of AK 47 rifle, one empty magazine of FN rifle and nine packs of explosives suspected to be dynamites.
    He said operatives of of Sector 1 following a tip-off arrested Mr, Thankgod Michael, Mr Umukoro Austin and Frank Jemedake in connection with a bag containing four pieces of AK 47 rifle in Kokori Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State.
    He said: “Following one of the suspect’s confessions that the weapon used by the gang is in the house of one of the member, Mr Oruno, a search was conducted at his residence where six pieces of AK 47 magazines loaded with 36 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition and a bag containing coins of both local and foreign currencies were found.
    “During the search, Mr Francis Akpovwovwo, Festus Ochiko and Emmanuel Ofuoma were arrested in the apartment. The arrested suspects and exhibits are in custody of Operation PULO SHIELD for preliminary investigation before further action by prosecuting agencies”.
  • Troops arrest pirates’ medical doctor in Bayelsa

    Troops arrest pirates’ medical doctor in Bayelsa

    • Rescue kidnap soldier

    An unnamed medical doctor who specialised in the treatment of injured sea pirates and kidnappers has been arrested by troops of Joint Task Force (JTF), Operation Pulo Shield (OPS).

    The Coordinator, Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Col. Isa Ado, who confirmed the development said the troops also rescued a soldier kidnapped by pirates along Nembe Creek on March 24.

    Ado said the soldier was freed by troops of Sector 2 patrolling the creek of Otakeme Community in Ogbia Local Government Area, Bayelsa State.

    He said the soldier was takn to a medical facility for treatment while efforts were ongoing to apprehend the fleeing gunmen.

    On the arrested medical doctor, he said: “Toops deployed in Nembe LGA of Bayelsa State arrested a medical worker who specialized in treating wounded militants and sea pirates who sustained gun injuries during shoot out with security operatives in the region.

    “It was revealed from the source that the medical worker who has been on the business for a long time was responsible for the treatment of the wounded sea pirates and their leader who recently engaged troops of the Joint Force in a shootout along Nembe water ways in Bayelsa State.

    “During the encounter, four of the sea pirates were killed while others sustained injuries.  Among them is the leader of the gang popularly known as IDIAGBON who was taken to the medical facility belonging to the arrested medical worker at Okiama village in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State where treatment was administered on them.

    “However, luck ran out on them as troops on getting the information cordoned off the area and arrested the medical worker while the wounded pirates escaped before the arrival of troops.  The arrested suspects are currently undergoing preliminary investigation.”

    He said the troops also carried out anti-illegal oil bunkering activities around Igbematoru, Ogu-Bolo  and Bille axis of Bayelsa and Rivers State where some oil thieves operate with  seven wooden boats, two Cotonou boats, four surface tank loaded with suspected stolen products, seven storage tanks each loaded with 30,000 litres.

    He named other items discovered at the sites as pumping machines and underground tank filled with illegally refined AGO abiding that onesuspect was arrested during the operation. The sites and the items were subsequently destroyed.

    He said: “In another development, troops of Sector 1 Operation PULO SHIELD  deployed at Afiesere Flow Station in Ughelli North local Government Area of Delta State on 18 March 2016 foiled an attempt by some unscrupulous elements to vandalise and cart away valves from Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) wellhead 18/37 at Afiesere in Ughelli North.

    “Troops on getting information responded swiftly and recovered 2 valves supposedly abandoned by fleeing suspects. The recovered exhibits are in custody of the Joint Force while efforts are in top gear to apprehend the perpetrators.

    “Meanwhile, troops while on land trotting along NPDC Erhoike Flow Station Kokori Ethiope East LGA of Delta State, arrested Vincent Egedegbe and Jackson Egedegbe in connection with the vandalization of wellheads 3 and 19 Oil field.

    “The suspects on completion of preliminary investigation were handed over to the Nigerian Police at Ughelli Area A for further action.

    “A car snatcher who gave his name as Michael Wilson was also  arrested on 26 March 2016 at Ogbe Ijaw market square in Warri South LGA of Delta State while attempting to snatch an ash coloured Toyota 4 Runner Jeep with registration number Delta GG 683 BB  belonging to one Mark (real name withheld). The suspect will be handed over to prosecuting agency on completion of preliminary investigation.

    “The Maritime component of the Joint Force also arrested a notorious pipeline vandal around Ogbe Ijaw axis on 25 March 2016.   Items recovered from the suspect include explosives, wires and empty AK 47 Rifle magazine. The suspect and the recovered items are in the custody of the Joint Force for preliminary investigation before handing over to prosecuting agency.”

  • Dickson behind crisis in our Party, says APC

    Dickson behind crisis in our Party, says APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayelsa State chapter on Monday accused the State Governor, Mr. Seriake Dickson, of being the brains behind the crisis rocking the party in the state.

    APC in a statement signed by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr. Panebi Fortune, said there was an underhand dealing between the suspended Chairman of the party,  Chief Tiwe Oruminighe and Dickson.

    Oruminighe and few membes of the state Executive Committee have been directely attacking the state leader of the party, Chief Timipre Sylva, accusing him of selling appointments to his cronies.

    Dickson in the heat of the crisis released a statement purportedly supporting the faction of the APC Executive Committee led by Oruminighe.

    The party said: “It has become compelling for us to expose the under hand dealings between the governor, Hon Henry Seriake Dickson and the suspended state chairman of the APC, Chief Tiwei Oruminighe alongside two of his accomplices.

    “In the last few days, the state and indeed the entire nation has witnessed the outright misdemeanour on the part of the suspended party and two members of the state exco. As a party built on the principles of discipline, justice and fair play, 25 out of the 31 member state exco of the party supended Orunimigha and his co-travellers for gross indiscipline and misconduct.

    “However, our attention has been drawn to a statement laced with lies and outright misinformation purporting and insinuating financial dealings between two leading lights in our party, that is our leader, Chief Timipre Sylva and the Hon Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri prior to the appointment of the latter as minister. We find these lies very disgusting and ignoble, hence seen as the ranting of a bunch of misled ingrates.

    “But our curiosity is that the statement emanated from one Daniel Iworiso-Markson, chief press secretary to Governor Dickson. The question of who is behind the suspended chairman and his ‘boys’ does not need to be asked. What rather baffles us is the rationale behind this incredulous act of anti party and unconscionable desire for monetary gains in the name of politics.

    “We wish to state unequivocally that the entire membership of the ‎state exco aside the suspended trio of Oruminighe, Julius Eddy and Daniel Marlin is solidly behind our leader, Sylva as well as the minister of state. We call on the relevant security agencies to unravel the source of the attached email statement from Iworiso-Markson”.

  • Minister to Bayelsa APC faction: Blackmail won’t distract me

    Minister to Bayelsa APC faction: Blackmail won’t distract me

    The  Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri on Monday said no amount of blackmail would distract him from discharging his functions in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Lokpobiri said all the allegations against him by the suspected faction of the state Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the party’s state Chairman, Chief Tiwe Oruminighe were laughable and baseless.

    Oruminighe and his group accused Lokpobiri of purchasing his ministerial slot from the state leader of the party and former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva.

    But Lokpobiri in a statement signed by his Media Assistant, Mr. Donald Ojogo, said he never got his appointment on the altar of financial inducement.

    He threatened to seek redress in court by filing libel suit against persons bent in damaging his hard-earned reputation.

    The statement said: “In the last few days, the Bayelsa state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has contended with  some unsavoury moments.

    ” Undoubtedly, these are orchestrated by an insignificant few within the party and oiled by some external forces who feel threatened about their political future, especially as the APC challenges the outcome of the last governorship election at the Election Petition Tribunal.

    “‎From the outset, the attitude of the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has been to ignore and avoid responding to all such untoward moves and circumstances around the APC. To him, such do not represent the much required cohesion, sincerity of purpose and political maturity.

    “Nonetheless, in the view of the deliberate fabrication of lies and misrepresentation of facts on the part of those who have allowed themselves to be used in this blackmail venture, it has become very compelling to state the following:

    “The Hon Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri never got his appointment on the platter of financial negotiations as expressly insinuated by the suspended State chairman of the APC in Bayelsa State, Chief Tiwei Oruminigha and his cohorts.

    “Like other appointees of Mr President, Senator Lokpobiri was duly considered worthy to be so appointed in his position.

    “It is a clear case of misrepresentation of facts to insinuate that former governor of Bayelsa who is the leader of the APC in Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva collected money from the Hon minister before his appointment as minister. This is an outright fabrication”.

    The statement added: “The reference by Tiwei Orunimigha to statements purportedly made by Hon minister in the build up to the 2015 elections ‎that he (Lokpobiri) never believed in the ability of the APC and its then presidential candidate (now president), Muhammadu Buhari to win election is nothing but an exhibition of either some form of delusion or  incurable  amnesia.

    “For the records, the Hon Minister’s political affinity with President Muhammadu Buhari dates back to 2003 when he was the senatorial candidate of the defunct All Nigerian Peoples Party ( ANPP) fro Bayelsa West Senatorial District.

    “He had vigorously campaigned for him to be president then. The assertion by Orunimigha can only be a fictionalised sermon heightened by defeated expectations. It is therefore a blackmail that cannot stand the test of time. It is neither capable of distracting the Hon minister.

    “Lastly, as a law abiding citizen, the Hon Minister wishes to state that while an unsuspecting section of the media has the liberty to publish unsubstantiated stories, he reserves the right to seek redress in the ‎law courts”.

  • Killer of 12 policemen to die by hanging, court rules

    One of the killers of 12 policemen who were ambushed and shot dead along the creeks of Lobia 2 community, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State, on April 5, 2013, has been sentenced to death by hanging.
    The Oporoma Judicial Division of the High Court sitting in Yenagoa, the state capital, slammed the capital punishment on the accused person, Jackson Feutuboba, known along the creeks and waterways as Jasper.
    The 2013 victims were deployed by the state police command, then headed by Kingsley Omire (retd) to provide security for the funeral of the late mother of an ex-militant leader, Mr. Kile Torughedi, popularly known as Young Shall Grow.

    Torughedi who was the commander of the South Wing of the Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) from 2002 till 2009 when he embraced the amnesty for repentant militants was then serving as the Senior Special Adviser to Governor Seriake Dickson on Marine Waterways Security.

    The slain policemen were escorting dignitaries to the wake of the deceased when the gunmen attacked them.

    The gunmen killed 12 out of 15 of them and held one of them hostage for ransom.

    Jasper and two others have been standing trial for their murder.

    The court ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt and found Jasper guilty on all the 11 counts.

    He was particularly arraigned for killing one Police Inspector, Joseph Ofozini.
    The prosecution told the court that the accused person had over five cases in various courts bothering on kidnapping, sea piracy and involvement in the death of the policemen.

    The presiding Judge,  Justice M.A Ayemieye, took into consideration the nature of the offence, the passionate plea for mercy made by the defendant’s lawyer.

    But the judge concluded that the sentence for murder is death and it is mandatory.

    Justice Ayemieye ruled and sentenced the accused to death by hanging.

    The police prosecutor, Arthur Andrew Seweniowor, said if the accused failed to appeal the sentence in three months, the governor would sign his death warrant and he would be hanged.

    The accused lawyer, Efieseimokumo Bipelede earlier pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy saying the accused person is a family man with five children.

    He said imposing the maximum penalty would truncate the destiny of all the children whom he described as minors.

    He urged the court to convert the punishment to prison sentence.
    The court discharged and acquitted the second accused person identified as ThankGod Clinton Ezetu for lack of evidence.
    End.