A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has reserved sentencing in the case of Tombari Eedey Taol, who was convicted for the rape and murder of nine-year-old Eedeebari Littia Gonis in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Tombari was found guilty on December 17, 2024, in Suit No. PHC/785C/2019, for murder, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, and sexual abuse and exploitation. However, the court postponed sentencing due to the convict’s age under 14 years at the time the crime was committed, and ordered a medical evaluation to determine his mental state.
During the adoption of final written addresses, counsel to the convict, Ignatius Ihesiaba, argued that, based on Section 409 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL), the convict is eligible for either life imprisonment, rehabilitation, or confinement in a psychiatric facility, considering his age at the time of the offence.
Ihesiaba urged the court to consider the medical report, which diagnosed the convict with schizophrenia, suggesting that Tombari was of unsound mind at the time of the crime. She recommended that he be committed to the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Rumuigbo, for treatment and rehabilitation.
However, prosecuting counsel, Aya Adaye-Orugbani, disagreed. Citing Section 413 of the ACJL, she stated that while death sentences are prohibited for juvenile offenders, the law still permits life imprisonment or other terms deemed appropriate by the court.
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Adaye-Orugbani argued that based on the medical report and severity of the offence, the convict poses a serious threat to society and should be sentenced to life imprisonment. She maintained that a custodial centre is the only suitable facility to ensure public safety, while allowing for the convict’s treatment if necessary.
Presiding Judge, Justice Margaret Opara, described the case as one of the most frightening and horrific she has encountered. She adjourned sentencing to July 30, 2025.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, Deputy Director at the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Aya Adaye-Orugbani, reiterated her stance.
“We are here in connection to the 2018 murder case involving the defendant, now convicted, who was found guilty of rape, sexual exploitation, and the murder of a nine-year-old girl. The court has reserved sentence due to his age at the time and has ordered a medical evaluation to assist in sentencing,” she explained.
“The medical report diagnosed him with schizophrenia and recommended further treatment at the neuropsychiatric hospital. However, our position is that Section 413 offers two options in place of the death penalty: life imprisonment or a custodial sentence. Considering the gravity of the offence, we urged the court to sentence him to life imprisonment to prevent further threats to society.
“The diagnosis may have developed during incarceration, but either way, the convict remains a risk. He should be held at a custodial facility where he can receive treatment and be prevented from harming others,” she concluded.
