Two women, Prophetess Edina Lovelyn-Worlu and Ms. Onyema Bright Worlu, have been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment by the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, over the death of one late Isreal Georgewill.
After nine years of legal battle, the court found the two guilty of the offence and convicted them.
The prophetess, with a spiritual Church in Rumuche Community, Emohua Local Government Area of the state, was accused to have prepared a poisonous substance in the name of love portion for Onyema to administer in her lover, Georgewil’s food some time in 2012, which led to his death.
The trial Judge, Justice Adolphus Enebeli, yesterday, convicted the two persons of man-slaughter, instead of the case of murder that was charged in an earlier suit on the death of Georgewil.
The trial judge held that the prosecution was able to prove their case and that the statements of the 1st defendant, Onyema, at the police station were voluntarily given, where she stated that she administered the love portion to her man-friend as prepared by her prophetess, who is the 2nd defendant in the matter for financial assistance from him but never know that it will result to Georgewill’s death.
Enebeli, after considering all the facts presented by the parties and what the law says especially under Sections 7 and 24 of the Administration of Criminal Code of Rivers State, convicted and sentenced Onyema and Edina to life imprisonment without option or fine.
Speaking to journalists immediately after the judgment, Counsel for the First Defendant, Mr. Vincent Chukwu, said they would appeal the judgment against his client for the interest of justice.
Chukwu said: “We have really gone through this matter since 2012 or so, till today and it is about nine years now we have battled this and it has not been easy.
“The argument was very tensed. Judgment has been given, you can even hear that the court has made a pronouncement that we have a right of appeal even till we get to the Supreme Court.
“The fight is not over, it will get to the Supreme Court certainly, we are appealing the judgment.”
Meanwhile, the Principal Prosecutor, Mr. Chidi Ekah, has described the judgment as justice for the deceased, his family, the state and Nigeria at large.
Ekah said: “I am happy that this matter has come to end. It does not mean that I am happy that somebody’s life will be wasted in prison, we do not take delight in that but the law must take its course. After all, somebody was killed and so the law says if you kill, this is the punishment for you.
“The court was even magnanimous enough to reduce it from murder to manslaughter. I am happy that justice has been served.”
