Man bags death verdict as magistrate declines jurisdiction in attempted murder case

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced a petroleum tanker conductor, Eze Kingsley, to death by hanging for the murder of Wagbara David.

The incident occurred on December 7, 2018, at Rumuosi community along the East-West Road. Delivering the verdict, Justice Boma Diepri ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Kingsley used a sharp object to stab David, causing his death. The judge subsequently sentenced him to death by hanging, pronouncing, “May his soul rest in peace.”

In another case, a Rivers Magistrate’s Court in Port Harcourt declined jurisdiction in a matter involving attempted murder and cultism charges against one Deele Akpobari, also known as Bob Satan. Akpobari is accused of attempting to murder Chief Gani Topba, the leader of the Conscience of Ogoni People, on March 12, 2023.

According to reports, Topba was ambushed while returning from Zaakpo in Khana Local Council of Rivers State and was shot multiple times, leaving him severely injured.

Chief Magistrate Rosemary Ibanibo, citing jurisdictional limitations, advised the suspect to seek bail at the state high court, which has the authority to hear the case.

Meanwhile, the trial of four suspects, including Confidence Kirinee (popularly known as General Illa), for charges of murder, cultism, and illegal possession of firearms could not proceed at the Bori High Court in Port Harcourt. The other accused persons, Precious Mona, Loveday Legah, and Soniabari Sagha, allegedly murdered and mutilated their victim, Muenalo Sunday, a pharmacist, and desecrated his remains in a shrine.

The prosecuting counsel, Precious Ordu, informed the court about the absence of the defence counsel and stated that he had yet to receive the written deposition of the witnesses from the defence. In response, Justice Augusta Kingsley-Chukwu adjourned the matter to February 26 so the defendants could open their defence.