BY AGNES NWORIE, ABAKALIKI
A High Court sitting in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State has sentenced two workers of the Hospitality Department of Living Faith Church, a.k.a Winners Chapel, Okposi Umuoghara branch in Ezza North Local Government Area of the state to death by hanging.
The court, presided over by Justice Benson Ogbu in a suit marked HAB/92c/2019, sentenced Franklyn Igwe and Ogbonna Igboke to death by hanging having been found guilty of murder of Monday Ukwa, head of the Hospitality department of the church on March 3, 2019.
Ukwa was said to have been killed a few hours after he was inaugurated as the leader of the department.
Igwe, who handed over the leadership baton of the department to the deceased, was said to have called him on the telephone, demanding for his presence at a relaxation joint in the evening of the inauguration day.
However, upon getting to the venue, a disagreement was said to have ensued between Igboke who was already drunk and Ukwa. Ukwa was said to have slumped and died during the fight.
Delivering judgement on the matter, Justice Ogbu declared the duo guilty as charged and sentenced them to death by hanging.
He said, “The law does provide that whoever is found guilty of murder shall be liable upon conviction to death.
“The court, having found you (convicts) guilty of murder, contrary to Section 319(1) of the Criminal Code, the sentence upon you Franklyn Igwe and Ogbonna Igboke is that you be hanged by the neck until you be dead.”
