Man sentenced to death for killing twin, two others for rituals

Delta state high court sitting in Asaba has sentenced one Onuwa Olise Ijie to death and another, Nwanozie Uzor to 14 years imprisonment respectively for the murder and conspiracy to commit murder of twin boys, seven-year-old Chidalu and Chigozie Olise Agwunobi.

The court, presided over by Honourable Justice Onome Marshal Umukoro heard from the Prosecution how on March 5, 2020, the twin of the family of Olise Agwunobi of Oko- Ogbele Community in Oshimili south council area of the state were lured by the defendants to a bush and cut off their penis, eyes, tongues and hands which they hurriedly took to a native doctor to Aguleri, Anambra State.

According to the prosecution, one of the defendants had earlier gone to the school of the twin children to take them but was turned down by the school teacher, one Mrs Emelda Ogugua Ezekwude.

The Prosecution conducted by a Deputy Director in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Paula Akpoguma in proof of the case called 5 witnesses.

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Six witnesses testified in the case.

They include a 15-year-old Iweka Ajie, a younger brother to one of the defendants who came to testify via video link but at the last minute out of fear, refused to adopt his deposition on oath.

However, the testimony of the other five witnesses proved the case against the two defendants beyond reasonable doubt.

Delivering his judgment on Tuesday, Hon. Justice Marshal-Umukoro stated that after a careful evaluation of the evidence before him, the prosecution had discharged the burden of proof as the first defendant from his confessional statement was the person who sowed the seed of committing human rituals in the mind of the second defendant by giving the phone number of one Chukwudi Edemuzor who was alleged to be searching for twins to kill for money.

The court maintained that the law is settled that the testimony of an Investigating police officer is not hearsay evidence and the court can rely on it.

In a chat with journalists soon after the judgment, the Prosecuting counsel Mrs. Paula Akpoguma thanked the Court for upholding the cause of Justice and reaffirming that the Judicial system works.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE