A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has convicted and sentenced four persons to death by hanging for their roles in the gruesome killing of the former Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ahoada East Police Division, Superintendent of Police (SP) Bako Amgbashim.

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, popularly known as “Selina”; and the fifth defendant, Loveday Jack, also known as “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 and consequently ordered that the four convicts “be hanged by the neck until they are confirmed dead.”

In the same judgment, the sixth defendant, Samuel Nwadinma, was convicted for conspiracy and sentenced to three years’ imprisonment. However, the third defendant was discharged and acquitted on all four counts of conspiracy, murder, cultism and robbery.

Justice Aprioku also 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 court ruled that they had already served the maximum term prescribed by law for the offence during their time in correctional custody, making their continued detention unnecessary.

The judge noted that one of the condemned persons, Sonabari, was responsible for preparing the charm allegedly used in carrying out the killing of the late DPO.

Reacting to the judgment, the lead prosecution counsel from the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Chigozie Amadi, who spoke alongside Celestine Dickson representing the Nigeria Police in the joint prosecution, commended the court for what they described as a courageous and thorough verdict.

Dickson expressed concern over the growing trend of attacks on security personnel, stating that officers charged with protecting lives and property had increasingly become targets of criminal elements.

He also expressed optimism that the judgment would serve as a deterrent to others involved in violent crimes.

Outside the courtroom, the elder brother of the slain officer, Akasco Amgbashim, who travelled from Nasarawa State to witness the judgment, described the verdict as a healing balm for the family.

He said the family had endured deep pain since the murder of their brother and thanked the judiciary, the Rivers State Government and the Nigeria Police for ensuring justice was served.

According to him, the ruling sends a clear message that no individual has the right to unlawfully take another person’s life.

The four convicts were among 72 persons initially arraigned before the Rivers State High Court by a joint prosecution team comprising the Department of Public Prosecutions and the Rivers State Police Command.

During the course of the trial, 61 defendants — including Eze Ekpeye Logbo, Eze Kelvin Anugwo, and a former Ahoada East Local Government Council Chairman, Cassidy Ikegbidi — were discharged and acquitted for lack of evidence, leaving 13 persons to face final judgment.

SP Bako Amgbashim was brutally murdered on September 8, 2023, during a police operation in Odemude community, Ahoada East Local Government Area.

His body was reportedly dismembered, a development that sparked widespread outrage and heightened tension in the area.

Following the incident, the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, launched a joint operation which led to the killing of the suspected cult leader, David Okparanwo, popularly known as “2Baba,” believed to have spearheaded the attack.

The court’s ruling marks a significant milestone in the long-running legal battle over the killing, bringing a measure of closure to the family and signalling the judiciary’s resolve to address violent crimes against law enforcement officers. (The Guardian)