Rivers cleric to die by hanging for murder of choir mistress, others

Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, yesterday, convicted and sentenced the General Overseer of the Alter of Solution and Healing Assembly in Oyigbo Local Council, Pastor Chidiebere Okoroafor to death by hanging for killing three people, including his choir mistress, he allegedly impregnated.

In his judgment, Justice S. O. Benson said the evidence and confessional statement by Pastor Okoroafor proved that he murdered his choir mistress, Orlunma Nwagba, her friend, Chigozie Ezenwa alongside her daughter, Cresabel Ezenwa.

Justice Benson held that the prosecution proved the case of murder against Okoroafor and ordered that the pastor should die by hanging.

The judge also ruled that the convict should be hanged on his neck until he dies or be injected with lethal injection,which will also kill him faster.

Recall that operatives of Rivers State Police Command had on December 17, 2018, arrested Pastor Okoroafor, following an alarm raised by the husband of the late Chigozie Ezenwa over the killing of the three victims on December 11, 2018, in two different locations in Oyigbo Local Council.

Speaking to newsmen outside the courtroom, the prosecuting counsel from the state’s Ministry of Justice, Precious Ordu and a representative of International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Antonia Osademe, expressed happiness over the judgment which they described as justice well served.

Ordu said: “Today, judgment has been given to both the state, the complainant and the convict. It will serve as a deterrent to all persons that intend to commit the same offence because it is a justice for all. We are happy today that judgment was given in favour of the state.”

Also, husband to one of the deceased, Ezenwa, said: “I am happy. Last time I saw my wife in a dream and she walked across me with kids and I asked her where she was going and she answered that she was going to rest and I thank God today that judgment has been given.”

Meanwhile, Innocent Ekwu, who the is counsel to the convict, said the court erred in its judgment, by failing to clear doubts raised by the defence before arriving at the verdict.