The Delta State High Court has sentenced three men to death by hanging for the murder of His Royal Majesty, Obi Edward Akaelue Ofulue III, the late King of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom.
The convicted men, Suleiman Musa, Umar Mohammed, and Garba Abubakar Haruna, also known as Dogo, were found guilty of the crime, which was committed on January 6, 2016
Justice M. Omovie, who presided over the case, also sentenced Jemilu Ahmed to 14 years in prison without the option of a fine for having the monarch’s stolen handset.
The convicts faced multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit armed robbery, armed robbery, conspiracy to commit murder, and the murder of the royal father.
The prosecution team, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Anthony Orhorhoro, called five witnesses to testify, including Pastor Charles Afamefuna Ugboh, who was kidnapped alongside the monarch but survived.
Ugboh provided eyewitness testimony, detailing their abduction at gunpoint and his eventual escape.
In her judgment, Justice Omovie ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, the court sentenced the three men responsible for the kidnapping and murder of Obi Edward Akaelue Ofulue III to death by hanging.
The judge further sentenced Jemilu Ahmed to 14 years imprisonment for receiving property stolen from the deceased monarch.
The tragic incident occurred along Obior Road, where the monarch was abducted and held captive. His corpse was discovered in the bush days later.
