Ugochukwu Iwuchukwu
A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced one MOSES EJIKELEMACHI to death by hanging by leg for the murder of one EKENE OKAFOR in 2012 in Port Harcourt.
The Presiding Judge, Justice OMEREJI sentenced MOSES EJIKELEMACHI after founding him guilty of four-count charge bothering on conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and stealing.
MOSES EJIKELEMACHI was alleged to have committed the crime in 2012 and was arrested in 2013.
The deceased person, late Mr. EKENE OKAFOR was called by the accused person to a destination somewhere at Rumuigbo sometime in 2012.
Unknown to the deceased person, the accused person and other of his cohorts who were at large were already seated waiting for him. Upon his arrival, they took him in his own car kidnapped him to an unknown destination, which was later discovered to be around Rukpoku axis in Obio/Akpor local government of Rivers State.
About three months after, his corpse was found in a shallow well in Rukpoku.
Speaking to newsmen outside the court, the lead lawyer to the Rivers State government in the case, DIENMA TAMUNO-OPUBO said the judgment is a victory for the deceased family.
”I want to say that justice has been done to the deceased person and also to the state. The court was very fair in her judgment. All the 37 exhibits that were tendered, the court thoroughly looked at them and other facts before it to deliver this judgment” he said.
OBIDINMA OBIDINMA, the lawyer of MOSES EJIKELEMACHI said they will appeal the matter after reviewing the judgement.
OBIDINMA OBIDINMA said his client has good grounds to appeal the judgment.
Our correspondent reports that the presiding judge also sentenced MOSES EJIKELEMACHI for five years for conspiracy, another 5 years for stealing and 15 years for kidnapping.
