By Tina Amanda
A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced the General Overseer of the Alter of Solution and Healing Assembly Church in Oyigbo Local Government Area, Pastor Chidiebere Okoroafor, by hanging for the murder of three people, including his Choir Mistress whom he impregnated.
The presiding Judge, Justice S.O Benson, in his judgment, ruled that the evidence and confessional statement of Pastor Okoroafor proved that he murdered the Choir Mistress Orlunma Nwagba, late Mrs Chigozie Ezenwa alongside her daughter Cresabel Ezenwa.
Justice Benson held that the prosecution proved its case of murder against Pastor Okoroafor after he was convicted by hanging on his neck or should be injected with a lethal injection which also kills faster.
In an interview with our Correspondent, the state Prosecution Counsel, Precious Ordu, said he is happy with the judgement as justice has been served to the state, complainant and the convict while describing it as justice for all in favour of the state.
“First and foremost, I want to thank God for giving us strength even when we had a series of threats during the trial. Sometimes I would receive a call, and someone would tell me to watch my back, but God gave us the hope and confidence to move on with the matter.
“I also want to thank FIDA Rivers State, who brought this matter before the state took over led by the former Chairperson, Antonia Osademe. She was helpful in the case alongside Barrister Concealia Eweluozo. They followed the matter to its logical conclusion, so we are happy”.
Innocent Ekwu, Counsel to the convict Pastor Chidiebere Okoroafor, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgement and said they would appeal the judgement on some grounds.
“Today, the court convicted my client of murder, and the court held that there was no eyewitness throughout the trial, no circumstantial evidence linking the convict to murder, but on account of a confessional statement and based on that confessional statement, he was sentenced to death by hanging or by injecting a lethal substance.
“We, as counsels to the Defendant, have decided to appeal the case. We are going to file our notice of appeal as quickly as possible. We have grounds which we certainly believe the Defendant did not commit the offence and the trial court misapprehend the facts and misconceived the law”.
A FIDA Rivers State representative, Barrister Antonia Osademe, expressed happiness over the judgment, noting it will serve as a deterrent to others in the society committing such offence.
“This case started in my tenure to ensure justice is served to the late two women, the little child involved and the man we followed up. The late woman’s husband, Mr Ezenwa, did not have anything to pay for the autopsy; as FIDA Chairperson then, we followed up and ensured the autopsy was done.
“The Police wanted to prosecute, and I said no. I followed it up with the Ministry of Justice to the Attorney General’s office to ensure proper prosecution. We are delighted that justice has been served in the honour of the deceased”.
Operatives of Rivers State Police Command had, on 17 December 2018, arrested Pastor Chidiebere Okoroafor following an alarm raised by the husband of the late Mrs Chigozie Ezenwa over the killing of the three people on 11 December 2018 in two different locations in a community in Oyigbo Local government Area.
