A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday sentenced twin brothers and five others to death by hanging for the kidnap and murder of Reverend Edwin Isaiah Dokubo-Harry. The deceased was abducted and killed in 2013 in a community in Asari Toru Local Government Area of the state.
Court Proceedings
Presided over by Justice Boma Diepiri, the convicts faced a 25-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnap, murder, possession of illegal firearm, and criminality. Justice Diepiri discharged and acquitted Emmanuel Israel and Nephew Philemon.
Details of the Crime
The court stated that the convicts and others now at large, on December 6, 2013, lured Reverend Dokubo-Harry to a forest at Abalama community in Asari Toru, kidnapped him, tied his eyes and hands leading to his death, and later abandoned his dead body in a creek in the area.
Justice Diepiri held that the prosecution had proven the case of conspiracy, kidnap, murder, possession of illegal firearm, and criminality against Precious Jack Opara, Answer Dick, Osaki Fubara, Prince Mikado Philip, Tienabeso George, Seleipri Fubara, and Alaboeriya Fubara.
Sentence and Reaction
Justice Diepiri ruled that the convicts should be hanged on their neck until they are confirmed dead. He thereafter directed the prosecution to hand over the recovered gun and other exhibits to the Nigeria Police. The pronouncement of the death sentence resulted in emotional and uncontrollable tears from some of the convicts and their family members who were in the courtroom in solidarity.
