The Rivers State High Court sentenced Bestman Lekia to death by hanging for murdering four people and using one of his victims’ intestines to make plantain porridge.
Lekia was also accused of torching homes in the Khana Local Government Area.
Gbodu Nobale, Etim Ekpe, Nenalebarri Mmeabe, and Loveday Mmeabe were murdered by the convict and others who are still at large.
In 2019, Lekia and his gang kidnapped Loveday Mmeabe, took him to a location where they removed his intestines and used them to prepare a plantain meal in Okwalie, Khana.
Justice Adolphus Enebeli, the trial judge, found Lekia guilty of murder, kidnapping, cultism, and armed robbery, saying the prosecution lawyer proved his case beyond all reasonable doubt.
According to Justice Enebeli, Lekia’s demeanour throughout his trial demonstrated that he was a hardened criminal, cultist, and terrorist.
He decreed that Lekia be hanged on his neck until his death was confirmed.
Chidi Ekeh, the state prosecutor, described the judgement as erudite, saying it would save the Ogoni community and Rivers State.
Ekeh stated that, while he was disappointed that someone would die, the State would have failed if Lekia had been allowed to go free without facing justice.
