Obiora metu
An Onitsha High court, Anambra State, Presided over by Hon. Justice D.A Onyefulu, Wednesday sentenced two youths, Valentine Umezinwa and Emeka Okolonji to death after finding them guilty over the murder of a sex worker, Blessing Eze.
The Presiding Judge has earlier last week adjourned the sentence to February 9th. 2022 in accordance with the new Anambra State Law
While delivering Judgement the judge said he listened to the cross examination by the State Counsel, N. S. Emeka and the response from the prison officials who testified of the good conduct of the accused during their period in correctional facilities
Also the mother of Emeka Okolonji who wept bitterly in court said that her son who had been nursing the ambition to study abroad had never been found with bad gang.
In his ruling Justice Onyefulu said that the Counsel to the convicts have the option of appeal as well as through the committee of prerogative of mercy stressing that the Governor has the final say on the matter.
“The Counsels have not shown enough reason why justice should be tampered with mercy”, the judge ssid
Counsel to the state, N. S. Emeka while speaking to this paper on the judgment said that justice has been done to the deceased, to the state and to the convicts, stressing that the convicts have the right to appeal over the judgment.
The defence Counsel, C. C. Okeke said they received the judgment with open heart stressing that they will approach the committee for the prerogative of mercy, and will also appeal on the judgment
It will be recalled that the convicts were accused of murdering one Blessing Eze, a sex worker who they lured, murdered and dumped the corpse around DMGS axis in Onitsha.
The Judge had earlier rejected the plea by their Counsels on the ground of youthful exuberance, arguing that if that should be allowed to stand youth would be acting anyhow and wasting people’s lives
