Rivers Court Sentences Twin Brothers, Five Others To Death Over Priest’s Murder

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted and sentenced twin brothers alongside five others to death by hanging for the kidnap and murder of Reverend Edwin Isaiah Dokubo-Harry.

The late cleric was abducted and killed in 2013 in a community in Asari Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Justice Boma Diepiri, who presided over the case, delivered the judgment on Monday in a 25-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, unlawful possession of firearms and criminal activities. The court, however, discharged and acquitted Emmanuel Israel and Nephew Philemon.
According to the court, the convicts and other suspects still at large lured Reverend Dokubo-Harry to a forest in Abalama community, Asari Toru, on December 6, 2013, where he was kidnapped, blindfolded and tied before he was eventually killed. His body was later dumped in a creek within the area.
The court held that the prosecution successfully proved the offences of conspiracy, kidnapping, murder, unlawful possession of firearms and criminality against Precious Jack Opara, Answer Dick, Osaki Fubara, Prince Mikado Philip, Tienabeso George, Seleipri Fubara and Alaboeriya Fubara.
Justice Diepiri subsequently ruled that the convicts should be hanged until confirmed dead.
He also directed the prosecution to hand over the recovered firearm and other exhibits to the Nigeria Police Force.
Following the pronouncement of the death sentence, some of the convicts and their family members broke down in tears inside the courtroom. (The Sun)