A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced three individuals to death by hanging for their roles in the killing of a pharmacist in the state.

The convicts — Confidence Kirinee, popularly known as General Illa, Precious Mona, and Soniabari Sagha — were found guilty of conspiracy, cultism, kidnapping and murder. Another defendant, Loveday Legal, was sentenced to life imprisonment for being a member of the secret cult group linked to the crime.

Delivering judgment, Justice Augusta Chukwu ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court held that the accused were responsible for the abduction and killing of the victim, Muenalo Sunday, who hailed from Zaakpo community in Khana Local Government Area.

The incident occurred on March 5, 2019, when the pharmacist was reportedly kidnapped and murdered by members of the Iceland cult group. According to the court, the attackers beheaded the victim, removed some parts of his body and dumped the remains in a pit, while the severed head was taken to a shrine located in a nearby bush.

Justice Chukwu ordered that Kirinee, Mona and Sagha be executed by hanging, while Legal would spend the rest of his life in prison.

Following the verdict, lawyers representing the convicts declined to comment on the judgment.

However, the prosecution counsel, Precious Ordu, who represented the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, praised the ruling, describing it as a demonstration that justice had been served.

Reacting to the outcome, the widow of the deceased, Pretty Neewa-Sunday, said she was satisfied with the judgment, expressing hope that it would bring peace to the soul of her late husband.