On Friday, a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, found three individuals guilty of murder, sentencing them to death by hanging for their role in the killing of a pharmacist.
The convicted trio consists of Confidence Kirinee, known as General Ilia, Precious Mona, and Soniabari Sagha.
Justice Augusta Chukwu, who presided over the court, also sentenced another defendant, Loveday Legah, to life imprisonment for being part of a cult that precipitated the murder of pharmacist Muenalo Sunday from the Zaakpo community in the Khana Local Government Area.
The judgment indicated that Confidence Kirinee, Precious Mona, and Soniabari Sagha were found guilty of conspiracy, cultism, kidnapping, and the murder of Muenalo Sunday on March 5, 2019, in the Zaakpo area.
In her ruling, Justice Chukwu stated that the prosecution successfully established evidence against the three individuals for conspiracy, cultism, kidnapping, and murder, while Loveday Legah was convicted solely for cult- related activities.
The judge emphasized that confessions and evidence presented during the trial showed that the culprits, members of the Iceland cult, conspired, kidnapped, and murdered their victim, ultimately mutilating the body before hiding it in a pit, while the head was taken to their shrine in a nearby area.
While Justice Chukwu sentenced the three to death, she ordered that Loveday Legah serve life imprisonment.
Following the judgment, the defense counsel opted not to provide comments.
The state's Chief Counsel from the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Precious Ordu, expressed satisfaction with the judge's thorough decision, highlighting it as a meaningful step towards justice for the victim and their family.
"Today's judgment is commendable. We appreciate the judge's meticulous work. This case has been a long journey, and today, justice has prevailed," Ordu remarked.
Ordu also noted that the resolution of this case would provide a sense of closure for those seeking justice, emphasizing its significance for the deceased's family.
The widow of the late pharmacist, Pretty Neewa-Sunday, who suffers from sickle cell disease, conveyed her gratitude regarding the ruling, stating it allows her husband's soul peace. She remarked, "They have paid for what they did to my husband, who was innocent of any wrongdoing."
Expressing her sorrow, she added, "My heartache stems from my illness; my husband was my caregiver. Today, I find myself unexpectedly a widow, which neither of us anticipated."
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