Rivers Court death sentences pharmacist murder convicts as three men are condemned to hang and another receives life imprisonment for cult-related killing

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on Friday sentenced three men to death by hanging for the murder of a pharmacist, while a fourth defendant received life imprisonment for cult-related offences linked to the killing.

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Justice Augusta Chukwu delivered the judgment, convicting Confidence Kirinee, popularly known as General Ilia, Precious Mona and Soniabari Sagha for conspiracy, cultism, kidnapping and the murder of pharmacist Muenalo Sunday.

The court also sentenced Loveday Legah to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of belonging to a secret cult group whose activities led to the killing.

The prosecution established that the crime occurred on March 5, 2019, in Zaakpo community in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State.

In the judgment, Justice Chukwu ruled that the prosecution successfully proved the charges against the defendants, noting that confessional statements and other evidence presented before the court established their involvement in the crime.

The court held that the convicted men, identified as members of the Iceland cult group, conspired to kidnap and murder the pharmacist before disposing of his remains in a pit in the community.

Justice Chukwu subsequently ordered that Confidence Kirinee, Precious Mona and Soniabari Sagha be hanged by the neck until they are confirmed dead, while Loveday Legah would spend the rest of his life in prison.

Counsel representing the convicts declined to comment on the verdict following the ruling.

Speaking to journalists after the judgment, Chief State Counsel in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Precious Ordu, praised the court for what he described as a thorough and courageous decision that delivered justice.

“The judgment today is a good one. We commend the judge for a thorough work,” Ordu said.

“It has been a hectic one from when we started till date. We really thank God that the matter has come to an end.”

The prosecutor added that the verdict would restore confidence in the justice system for the victim’s family.

“Today I’m sure she is happy and even the dead is also happy that justice has also been secured on his behalf, notwithstanding that he was brutally killed,” Ordu said.

“He will also rest wherever he is today.”

The widow of the slain pharmacist, Pretty Neewa-Sunday, said the judgment brought a sense of closure to her family.

Neewa-Sunday, who revealed that she lives with sickle cell disease, said her late husband had been her primary source of care and support.

“They have reaped what they sowed because they killed my husband who did not commit any offence,” she said.

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“My pain is that I have sickle cell disease and only my husband knew how to care for me. Today I have become a widow that neither my husband nor I planned for.”