A Bayelsa State High Court has issued a death sentence to four individuals implicated in the murder of a taxi driver, Mr. Olarenwaju Ajayi. The incident occurred during a trip to Onne, Rivers State.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Patience Diri at the High Court Two in Yenagoa, found Sunday Imoh Essien, Opena Akpabio, Odogha Ebi, and Clifford Michael guilty of conspiracy, murder, and armed robbery.
The court’s investigation revealed that the defendants had hired Mr. Ajayi, a taxi driver who operated between Yenagoa and Port Harcourt, under the pretense of attending a naval program in Onne, Rivers State. The driver picked them up from Agudama-Epie with the destination of Onne.
The journey took a deadly turn near Ahoada, Rivers State. Mr. Sunday Imoh requested the driver to stop the vehicle. As the vehicle came to a halt, the other occupants attacked Mr. Ajayi. They strangled him with a marine rope and stabbed him, leading to his death.
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Following the murder, the convicts discarded the victim’s body and drove the stolen vehicle to Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, where they sold it for Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira.
In response to the court’s decision, the Bayelsa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo, SAN, reaffirmed the state’s dedication to justice. He highlighted the Bayelsa State Government’s firm stance against crime and its resolve to ensure that offenders are held accountable.
