(Sentenced to Death. Photo by Leadership Newspaper)
A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted seven individuals, including a pair of twin brothers, and sentenced them to death by hanging for the kidnapping and murder of Reverend Edwin Isaiah Dokubo-Harry.
The crime, the court revealed, took place in 2013 in Asari Toru Local Government Area of the state.
Delivering judgment, Justice Boma Diepiri discharged and acquitted two of the accused Emmanuel Israel and Nephew Philemon of the 25-count charges, which included conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, and unlawful possession of firearms.
According to the court, the remaining convicts and others who are still at large lured Reverend Dokubo-Harry into a forest at Abalama community in Asari Toru on December 6, 2013, where they kidnapped him, blindfolded him, and bound his hands.
He subsequently died, and his body was later abandoned in a creek in the area.
Justice Diepiri held that the prosecution had successfully established its case of conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, illegal possession of firearms, and criminal conduct against Precious Jack Opara, Answer Dick, Osaki Fubara, Prince Mikado Philip, Tienabeso George, Seleipri Fubara, and Alaboeriya Fubara.
He ordered that they be hanged by the neck until death is confirmed, and directed the prosecution to hand over the recovered firearm and other exhibits to the Nigeria Police.
The delivery of the verdict was met with an outpouring of emotion in the courtroom, with some of the convicted individuals and their family members who had gathered in solidarity breaking down in uncontrollable tears.
