Court sentences killers of Kachikwu’s uncle to death by hanging

A Delta State High Court sitting at Issele-Uku yesterday sentenced the killers of Felix Boise, the 75-year-old uncle to Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachukukwu, to death by hanging.

The septuagenarian was murdered at his farm on June 9, 2014 at Onicha-Ugbo in Aniocha North Local Council of Delta State by three persons who were arrested, prosecuted and have been jailed.

The trial judge, Justice C.I. Ogisi sentenced the three defendants namely: Sunday Luka, a 32 year old driver, Danjuma Kaika, 37 and Luka Agu, 33 all from Nassarawa State. They also made away with the deceased’ Kia Rio car.

The three defendants, who were labourers in the deceased farm were charged to court on a four count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit murder under section 324 of the Criminal Code Cap C21, Volume 1 Laws of Delta State, 2006 and murder under section 319(1).

Other charges are conspiracy to commit armed robbery contrary to section 6(b) and punishable under section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act Cap R11, Volume 14 Laws of the Federation, 2004 and the substantive offence of murder under section 1(2) (a) of the Robbery and Firearms Act.

While delivering the death verdict, Justice Ogisi, said the punishment for the offence committed by accused was mandatory and does not have the discretionary power to mitigate the death sentence.

The trial Judge, who sentenced the first and second accused persons on all four count charge, however, discharged the third accused person on count two and four but was sentenced on counts one and three.

He, however, agreed with the prosecution counsel, Pollen Ezeana-Ejiofor, in his submissions urging the court to also convict the defendants, as it proved his case against the defendants beyond all reasonable doubt.

“I am persuaded that the third accused person conspired with the first and second accused but I am also persuaded that the third accused person did not take part in the murder of Boise on June 9, 2014,” he said.

The court was further told that two of the defendants who participated in the crime, used logs of woods and blocks to cover up the lifeless body inside a dry well and made away with his Kia Rio salon car to Nassarawa State where they were arrested in their attempt to sell the car.The deceased eldest daughter, Mrs. Nkechi Esenwa, described the judgment as justice to her late father who was very kind and caring even to his killers.