Rivers State: Woman to Die by Hanging for Conspiring with Security Guard to Kill Husband

A High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has sentenced Mrs. Telma Bestman, a housewife, and Wilson Okelekele to death by hanging for conspiring to kill Telma’s husband, Bestman Wagbara.

Telma was charged with conspiring with Okelekele, who served as the family's security guard, to murder her husband Bestman Wagbara at their residence along Saint John’s axis of Rumuolumeni Ogbogoro road on 20th February 2020.

In her judgment, Justice Augusta Chukwu determined that the prosecution had successfully proven the case of conspiracy and murder against the convicts.

The court also found evidence that Mrs. Telma facilitated Mr. Okelekele's entry into the room to murder her husband on the fateful day.

Counsel to the Rivers State Government, Precious Odu, told journalists that justice had been served after the judgment was delivered. “We are happy. They can’t eat their cake and have it. They cannot just kill an innocent, full-fledged man and expect to go Scot-free. No, the law does not allow that. So we are happy that the judgment went this way. We expected it. By God’s grace, we got it.”

However, Ubogenkere Amadi, Counsel to Wilson Okelekele, stated that the client would appeal the judgment. “Naturally, we’ll appeal the judgment as we are not satisfied with it. We will study the judgment and definitely appeal.”

Our correspondent reports that the case has been ongoing for the past four years. The convicts are to remain in jail pending the outcome of their appeal unless they succeed in overturning the judgment at the court of appeal.