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A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced four of the 13 defendants standing trial over the killing of the former Divisional Police Officer of Ahoada East Police Division in the state, SP Bako Angbashim, to death by hanging.
SP Angbashim was killed in September 2023 in Odumude community, Ahoada East Local Government Area. His body was decapitated by members of a cult group, who circulated footage of the incident on social media.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Sika Aprioku found the first defendant, Robinson Sonabari, identified as a native doctor; the second defendant, Bright Okparawo; the fourth defendant, Precious Amaeze, also known as Selina; and the fifth defendant, Loveday Jack, popularly called Ragged Excess, guilty of conspiracy, murder, membership of a secret cult group, and robbery.
The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, including evidence that the native doctor prepared a charm used in the attack.
The court also convicted the sixth defendant, Samuel Nwadinma, sentencing him to three years’ imprisonment for conspiracy.
However, the third defendant was discharged and acquitted of all four counts, conspiracy, murder, membership of a secret cult group, and robbery, after the court found insufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
Justice Aprioku further discharged Famous Okechukwu, Samuel Uchendu, Oyekachi Ikonwa, Godbless Nnamdi, and Marshall Daniel, the ninth to thirteenth defendants, who had been found guilty of membership of a secret cult group.
The judge ruled that they had already served the statutory terms prescribed by law while in custody, making their continued detention unnecessary.
Rivers: Court sentences four to death over killing of Ahoada DPO
