Nearly eight years after the abduction and killing of a 300-level Delta State University Mass Communication student, Elozino Ogege, a Delta State High Court in Ogwashi-Uku has sentenced two men to death by hanging, bringing an end to one of the state’s most talked-about murder cases.
Justice Flora Ngozi Azinge on Wednesday convicted Macaulay Desmond Oghenemaro and Enaike Onoriode on charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder and murder.
The court, however, discharged and acquitted the third defendant, Nwosisi Benedict Uche, after finding no sufficient evidence to convict him.
The judgment concluded a trial that lasted about eight years and drew widespread public attention across Delta State, particularly in Ogege’s hometown in Isoko.
Ogege was abducted and murdered in 2018 after reportedly leaving to meet a man who had promised to help her secure accommodation near the university in Abraka.
The killing sparked outrage and was widely linked to alleged ritual activities involving suspected internet fraudsters, popularly known as “Yahoo Plus.”
The Delta State Government prosecuted the suspects through the Office of the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery and murder.
A fourth defendant, Robinson Obajero Ojokojo, said to be a native doctor, died before the trial was concluded.
The case experienced several delays over the years, including repeated absences by counsel representing the first defendant, before the parties eventually adopted their final written addresses.
Reacting to the judgment, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Omamuzo Erebe (SAN), who led the prosecution, described the verdict as justice for the slain student and her family.
He said the court found the two convicted men guilty of conspiracy to commit kidnapping, kidnapping, conspiracy to commit murder and murder, adding that while some counts attracted prison terms, the murder-related convictions carried the death penalty.
“Today, we witnessed the conclusion of a trial that commenced about eight years ago. Although the judgment cannot bring Elozino Ogege back to life, it has brought some measure of justice and closure to her family,” Erebe said.
He expressed sympathy for Ogege’s family, particularly her mother, who became emotional in court after the judgment.
Erebe also warned young people against engaging in kidnapping, ritual killings and other crimes in pursuit of quick wealth, stressing that offenders would eventually be brought to justice.
He said the judgment should serve as a reminder that no matter how long criminal cases take, the law would ultimately catch up with those responsible.
