Tina Amanda
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced to death three persons for the murder of Ex-Niger Delta militant Sogboma George and a groundnut seller, Joy John Ejims.
The Ex- Niger Delta militant Leader Sogboma George and Joy John Ejims were murdered inside a football field at Nembe street at the Borokiri axis of Port Harcourt local government area of the state on August 24, 2010.
Justice George Omereji in his judgement, ruled that the three Defendants Dougbra Ogbe, Emmanuel Gladstones and Bere Matthew, should be hanged on the neck till death for conspiracy and murder of George and Joy John Ejims.
Justice Omereji further ruled that the prosecution counsel was able to prove his case beyond reasonable doubts with the evidence of an eyewitness by name Emmanuel Eniete, who also sustained bullet injuries on his hand on the day of the incident.
The Judge further ruled that evidence and testimonies of the eyewitness proved that the defendants committed the crime.
Justice Omereji also ruled that the confessional statements made by the defendants, that they killed Sogboma George because he wanted to kill them for refusing to kill the former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi and the then Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, proved that they were guilty of the crime.
Prosecuting Counsel, Ipalibo Botoye, while speaking to our correspondent Tina Amanda, expressed happiness that justice has been served after ten years of prosecuting the matter, adding that he is ever ready to defend his his case should they appeal the judgment.
Recall that the defendants who are from Bayelsa State committed the crime in Port Harcourt and fled to Ondo state where they were arrested after been declared wanted by the police for killing Sogboma George and a groundnut seller, Joy John-Ejims.
Our correspondent reports that there was heavy presence of security operatives within the court premises following the presence of friends and associates of the late Soboma George.
Also speaking, Johnson Solomon, President of Niger Delta Youth for Transparency Democracy who is also the leader of Friends and Associates of Sogboma George, said the Judgement was well deserved as Justice has prevailed.
While describing Sogboma George as a great Niger Delta leader who fought for the struggle of the Niger Delta, he said further that the late ex-militant’s legacy will live and die with them.
