The Delta High Court has sentenced three men to death by hanging for the brutal murder of His Royal Majesty, Obi Edward Akaelue Ofulue III, the late King of Ubulu-uku Kingdom. The men—Suleiman Musa, Umar Mohammed, and Garba Abubakar Haruna, also known as Dogo—were convicted for the crime, which occurred on January 6, 2016.

Alongside the death sentences, another individual, Jemilu Ahmed, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for possession of the monarch’s phone, which was stolen during the crime.

The convicts faced multiple charges, including conspiracy to kidnap, kidnapping, armed robbery, and murder. The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Anthony Orhorhoro, presented evidence from five witnesses. One key witness was Pastor Charles Afamefuna Ugboh, who was kidnapped alongside the monarch but managed to escape. Pastor Ugboh gave a detailed account of the incident, describing how the defendants abducted them at gunpoint.

Justice M. Omovie, who presided over the trial, stated that the prosecution had proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt. As a result, the three primary suspects received the death sentence for kidnapping and killing Obi Edward Akaelue Ofulue III. Meanwhile, Jemilu Ahmed was sentenced to 14 years in prison for receiving stolen property.

The shocking incident occurred when the monarch was abducted along the Obior road. He was held captive, and his body was later discovered in a remote area days after the kidnapping.