Judgement on the gruesome murder of a Jumia delivery man, Chukwuma Eleje, who was killed in 2017, has been fixed for January 15, 2021. The High Court in Port Harcourt, presided over by Justice Chigozie Igwe, reserved judgement after listening to Counsels’ submissions of their final written addresses.
Bonaventure Ugwu, Counsel representing 1st Defendant Sodienye Mbatumueke, in his submission, urged the court to discharge and acquit his client as prosecution did not prove their case beyond reasonable doubt, while Lucky Agor, Counsel to 2nd Defendant Excel Naabee also submitted that the court should discharge and acquit his client as prosecution failed to prove that Naabee is an accomplice in the murder of Eleje.
On his part, the Prosecution Counsel urged the court to convict the 1st and 2nd Defendants, following overwhelming evidences from ten witnesses and forty-three exhibits presented before the court. Stressing that the motive behind the murder has been established beyond reasonable doubt.
You will recall that in March 2017, the deceased was reportedly lured into the premises where the accused and his friend reside at Ada George axis of Rivers State, when he went to deliver items they had purchased online. The duo had allegedly killed and dumped the deliveryman in the septic tank, after collecting the valuable items in his possession.
