Delta State High Court Sentences 24-Year-Old Man to Death by Hanging Over 2016 Classmate Murder Case

Delta State High Court Sentences 24-Year-Old Man to Death by Hanging Over 2016 Classmate Murder Case

The High Court of Delta State High Court, sitting in Kwale, has delivered a final judgment sentencing Ebinum Prosper, a 24-year-old man, to death by hanging for the murder of his classmate, Ojieh Chibogu. The conviction was handed down by Justice F. Enemor after the court found that the prosecution had successfully established the murder charge beyond reasonable doubt. The case has drawn attention due to its long judicial journey, spanning nearly a decade from the date of the original incident.

The court heard evidence that the fatal incident occurred on June 29, 2016, in Ugiliama Community, following a confrontation between the defendant and the deceased, who were reportedly classmates. Prosecutors told the court that the misunderstanding escalated into violence when Prosper allegedly used a knife to stab Chibogu during the altercation. Medical and investigative testimonies presented during the trial confirmed that the victim died as a direct result of the stab wound inflicted during the encounter. The prosecution maintained that the action was intentional and not accidental. 

The case was formally filed under Suit No. HCK/89C/2022, titled State vs. Ebinum Prosper. According to court records, the matter was initially handled at the High Court in Asaba before the trial was disrupted by events linked to the 2020 EndSARS protests. During the unrest, court documents and physical exhibits tendered in the case were destroyed in a fire incident while proceedings were at the address stage, forcing legal authorities to undertake reconstruction of the case file. 

Following the destruction of the original documents, prosecutors obtained certified true copies of the case processes from the High Court Registry in Asaba to rebuild the evidentiary record. The creation of the Kwale Criminal Division of the High Court facilitated the transfer of the matter back to the jurisdiction where the offence was committed, allowing a trial de novo. Legal practitioners explained that trial de novo proceedings are sometimes necessary when procedural integrity of original court records is compromised, ensuring that justice is administered based on reconstructed but authenticated documentation.

During the renewed trial process, the prosecution was led by Mrs. Catherine O. Onoberhie‑Oberuomo, an Assistant Director in the Delta State Ministry of Justice. The prosecution presented multiple witnesses and documentary evidence linking Prosper to the stabbing incident. After the prosecution closed its case, the defence team reportedly took more than one year before opening its defence, a delay that legal observers noted was significant in extending the duration of the trial. 

In delivering the judgment, Justice Enemor held that the prosecution had proved the murder charge beyond reasonable doubt in accordance with Nigerian criminal law standards. The court concluded that the defendant’s action was deliberate and directly responsible for the death of the victim. Consequently, the judge sentenced Ebinum Prosper to death by hanging, reflecting the statutory punishment prescribed under applicable criminal statutes for intentional homicide cases in the jurisdiction. Legal experts note that death sentences in Nigeria remain subject to appellate review and executive clemency processes. 

The case has generated discussion among legal observers regarding the length of time between the commission of the crime in 2016 and the final judgment delivered in 2026. Some commentators attribute the delay to procedural disruptions, including the destruction of records during the 2020 protests, court administrative restructuring, and the challenges associated with witness availability and case reconstruction. Others argue that extended trial periods are sometimes unavoidable in complex criminal proceedings but emphasize the need for faster justice delivery mechanisms within Nigeria’s judicial system.

Stone Reporters note that the conviction highlights the Nigerian judiciary’s continued enforcement of murder laws amid ongoing debates over capital punishment. While human rights organisations frequently advocate for abolition of the death penalty, proponents argue that it serves as a deterrent against violent crime. The convicted man retains the legal right to pursue appeal options through higher courts within the Nigerian judicial hierarchy.

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