A Bayelsa State High Court has sentenced two men to death by hanging for their involvement in the 2022 killing of three persons, including an in-law to Governor Douye Diri.
The victims were identified as Odeinyefa Ogbolosingha, an in-law to the governor, Paramount Ruler of Kalaba Community, Kolibo Francis Amabelimo, and the community’s CDC Chairman, Samuel Oburo.
The killings occurred in Kalaba Community, Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
The convicts, Gideon Atama, 32, and Clever Ovo, 33, were arrested by a police investigation team attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), formerly known as Operation Puff Adder.
The team was led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, who investigated the case before the suspects were charged with conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and attempted murder in suit number BYHC/YHC/CR/32/2025.
Another defendant, 50-year-old Bethlehem Nwanlia, reportedly slumped and died within the premises of the State High Court on October 27 while awaiting the court’s ruling.
Nwanlia was said to have developed complications arising from hypertension and stroke while in custody at the Okaka Medium Correctional Centre.
Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Michael Amadise Ekade, convicted Atama and Ovo and sentenced them to death by hanging after considering the evidence presented before the court.
Some family members of the deceased commended the VCRU team led by CSP Nwaogbo for the arrests and investigation.
They also praised the state government, through the Ministry of Justice, for what they described as diligent prosecution of the case.