A federal high court sitting in Port Harcourt on Monday found three people guilty of the murder of the four students killed in the Rivers State capital in 2012.
The court found police sergeant, Lucky Orji, David Ogbada and Ikechukwu Amadi (aka Kapoon) guilty of the murder of the four UNIPORT students – Ugonna Obuzor, Toku Lloyd, Tekena Elkannah, and Chiadika Biringa – who were stripped naked, stoned and burnt to death by a mob, after they were falsely accused of being robbers.
Letam Nyordee, the presiding Judge ruled that the prosecution counsel proved beyond any reasonable doubt that the three persons were involved in the murder.
Justice Nyordee said the video evidence provided by the prosecution was an overwhelming proof that the three were actively involved in the murder of the students.
He said that the convicted persons violated Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 2, Laws of Rivers State of Nigeria, 1999.
The judge said the killing of the four UNIPORT students were unjustifiable and condemnable, adding that the victims were the hope and future of their families.
He criticised the police and other security agencies for their failures to protect the lives of Nigerian citizens.
The court however discharged and acquited four others, saviour Johnny, Abiodun Yusuf, Joshua Ekpe and Cyril Abang for want of evidence.
Monday’s Judgement brought to a close four years of trial for the four undergraduates students who were brutally killed in Aluu community, Ikwere Local Government Area of Rivers State, in October 2012.