Court sentences two people to death by hanging for murder in Rivers

A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced a woman, Telma Bestman and a security guard, Wilson Okelekele, to death by hanging for their involvement in the conspiracy and murder of Bestman Wagbara.

Delivering the judgement, Justice Augusta Kingsley-Chukwu affirmed that the prosecution was able to prove the case of conspiracy and murder against the defendants.

The court found Telma guilty of conspiring with Okelekele to kill her husband, Wagbara, revealing that she facilitated Okelekele’s entry into her husband’s room through the back door, where the security guard committed the crime.

Following the verdict, Justice Kingsley-Chukwu ruled that Telma and Okelekele should die by hanging.

Telma, along with their security guard Okelekele, orchestrated the murder of her husband, Wagbara at their residence along the Saint John axis of Rumuolumeni-Ogbogoro link Road, Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the state on February 13, 2020.

Speaking to journalists outside the courtroom, Chief State Counsel from the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Previous Ordu, expressed satisfaction with the judgement, deeming it as “justice duly served.”

In contrast, Prince Ubojiekere Amadi, representing Okelekele, expressed discontent with the ruling, indicating intentions to appeal while reviewing the judgement for further action.