NIGERIA: FOUR SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING DRIVER

July 14, 2025:

A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced four men to death for the murder of a taxi driver, Mr Olarenwaju Ajayi, sometime in 2001.
The judgment delivered on July 10, 2025 by Justice Patience Diri of the Bayelsa State High Court 11, Onopa, Yenagoa in Suit No YHC/21C/202, State versus Sunday Essien, Opena Akpabio, Odogha Ebi, and Clifford Michael.
The court found the defendants guilty of conspiracy, murder and armed robbery and sentenced them to death.
Court findings said the convicts had chartered the late Ajayi, who plied between Yenagoa and Port-Harcourt, under the guise of attending a naval programme at Onne, Rivers State.
On the fateful day, the deceased picked the foursome up at Agudama-Epie, Yenagoa and headed to Onne.
But at Okogbe, under the pretence of relieving himself, the first defendant, Imoh, asked the driver to stop the vehicle.
As the vehicle stopped, the other occupants of the vehicle launched a coordinated attack on Ajayi; they held his neck, used a marine rope to tie him and stabbed him to death.
The court said, “After committing the act, they disposed of the body of the deceased and drove the stolen vehicle to Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, where they sold it for N450,000.
Commenting on the judgment, the Bayelsa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Biriyai Dambo (SAN), noted that the conviction underscored the state government’s “zero-tolerance policy toward crime and its unwavering commitment to ensure that criminals face the full weight of the law.”