Justice Served: Three Receive Death Penalty for Delta Monarch Murder
On December 17, 2024, a Delta State High Court in Ibusa sentenced three individuals to death by hanging for the murder of Obi Edward Akaeze Ofulue III, the traditional ruler of Ubulu-Uku Kingdom.
The convicted individuals are Suleiman Musa, Garba Abubakar, and Haruna. A fourth defendant, Jemilu Ahmed, received concurrent sentences of five and 14 years imprisonment for his involvement in the crime.
The court found that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt on a 10-count charge against the defendants.
The charges included conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery, and murder. The court emphasized that the sentences were in accordance with the law and served as a deterrent to others.
The murder of Obi Ofulue III occurred on January 6, 2016, when the defendants conspired to kidnap, rob, and subsequently murder the monarch. The case had been pending for several years, with the court proceedings experiencing multiple adjournments.