A court in Bayelsa State has sentenced four men to death for the brutal killing of a taxi driver named Mr. Olarenwaju Ajayi. The tragic incident happened during what appeared to be a regular trip to Onne in Rivers State.
The judgment was given on July 10, 2025, by Hon. Justice Patience Ama Zuofa Diri at the Bayelsa State High Court 11 in Yenagoa. The four men—Sunday Imoh Essien, Opena Akpabio, Odogha Ebi, and Clifford Michael—were found guilty of planning and carrying out the crime. The court convicted them of conspiracy, murder, and armed robbery.
Investigations revealed that the group had pretended to hire Mr. Ajayi, who worked as a commercial taxi driver between Yenagoa and Port Harcourt. They lied that they were going to attend a naval event in Onne, Rivers State.
Mr. Ajayi picked them up from Agudama-Epie and drove towards Onne. Unfortunately, the trip turned deadly when they got to Okogbe in Rivers State.
During the journey, one of the men, Sunday Imoh, told the driver he wanted to ease himself. When the car stopped, the others joined in a planned attack. They strangled the driver with a marine rope and stabbed him to death.
After killing Mr. Ajayi, the group dumped his body and drove the stolen car to Uyo in Akwa Ibom State. There, they sold the vehicle for ₦450,000.
Reacting to the court ruling, Bayelsa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo, SAN, said the decision showed the government’s strong stand against crime. He assured the public that justice would always be served in such cases.
