A high court sitting in Ugheli has sentenced a 40-year-old farmer to death by hanging over the murder of one Okunu Diafe, the Personal Steward and cook of the traditional ruler of Kiagbodo community in Delta State.
The accused, identified as Alex Obigho, was found the accused guilty of the one-count charge of murder preferred against him by the state,
The presiding judge, Justice A.O. Akpovi , consequently sentenced Obigho to death by hanging.
The late Diafa, a native of Kiagbodo community in Burutu Local Government Area of the state, was brutally murdered on the June 22, 2012 at the boundary between Oviri-Olomu of Ughelli South Local Government and Kiagbodo.
His murder had heightened tension between the two peaceful communities for fear of reprisal attack but the quick intervention of the traditional rulers of both communities saved the situation.
Justice Akpovi in his judgement, commended the traditional rulers of both communities for handling the matter with maturity, and prevented it from snowballing into crisis because of the action of one man.