A Rivers High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has sentenced to life imprisonment two women, Onyema Bright Worlu and Prophetess Edina Lovelyn-Worleru, for causing the death of one late Israel Georgewill through a love portion, they administered on him.
Edina, a prophetess with a spiritual Church in Rumuche Community, Emohua Local Government Area of the State, was accused of preparing a poisonous love portion for Onyema, who put in the food meant for Georgewill in 2012.
The trial Judge, Justice Adolphus Enebeli in his judgment, found the two guilty of manslaughter and sentenced them to life imprisonment.
The trial judge held that the prosecution lawyers proved their case beyond every reasonable doubt adding that the statements of the first defendant, Onyema, at the police station were voluntarily obtained.
Onyema had confessed to the police that she administered the love portion on her man friend as prepared by her prophetess, the second defendant, to get financial assistance from him but never knew it would result to his death.
Enebeli, after considering all the facts of the case sections 7 and 24 of the Administration of Criminal Code of Rivers State, convicted Onyema and Edina.
Speaking after the judgement, the Principal Prosecutor, Chidi Ekah, said the judgment was not only justice for the deceased and his family but also for the State and Nigeria.
Ekah said: “I am happy that this matter has come to end. It does not mean that I am happy that somebody’s life will be wasted in prison, we do not take delight in that but the law must take its course. After all, somebody was killed and so the law says if you kill, this is the punishment for you.
“The court was even magnanimous enough to reduce it from murder to manslaughter. I am happy that justice has been served.”
But the lawyer to the first defendant, Vincent Chukwu, said they would appeal the judgment against his client for the interest of justice.
Chukwu said: “We have really gone through this matter since 2012 or so, till today and it is about 9 years now we have battled this and it has not been easy.
“The argument was very tensed. Judgment has been given, you can even hear that the court has made a pronouncement that we have a right of appeal even till we get to the Supreme court.
“The fight is not over, it will get to Supreme Court certainly, we are appealing the judgment.”
