Rivers Court Sentences Man to Death for Killing Mortuary Owner

A Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt has sentenced Eze Kingsley, a middle-aged man, to death for the murder of David Wagbara, the owner of a mortuary.

Kingsley, who worked as a petroleum tanker conductor, fatally stabbed Wagbara on December 7, 2018, in Rumuosi Community along the East-West Road in the Obio/Akpor local government area. The altercation began when Wagbara requested that Kingsley remove his vehicle, which was blocking the entrance to the mortuary, hindering his business.

Justice Omah Diepreye, who presided over the case, concluded that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, leading to the death sentence for Kingsley.

In a separate case, a Chief Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt, led by Chief Magistrate Rosemary Ibanibo, has withdrawn from hearing a case involving attempted murder and cultism against Dele Akpobari, also known as “Bob Satan.”

Akpobari is accused of attempting to murder Gani Topba, the leader of the Conscience of Ogoni People (COOP), on March 12, 2023. When the case was presented on Monday, Chief Magistrate Ibanibo reviewed the charges filed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and determined that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter. She advised Akpobari to seek bail at the state High Court, which has the appropriate jurisdiction to handle the case.