Ebonyi Court sentences Man to death by hanging for murder of 18-Year-Old girl

A High Court in Abakaliki, the capital of Ebonyi State, has sentenced a 30-year-old man, Boniface Abraham Edigbo, to death by hanging for the murder of an 18-year-old student after sexually assaulting him.

The deceased, identified as Ogbonna Joshua, was an SS2 student of Community Secondary School, Amachi, in Izzi Local Government Area of the state. The court found that Edigbo killed Joshua on May 23, 2023, by poisoning him with a drink laced with insecticide after their last encounter at a hotel.

Presiding over the case, Justice Ruth Okeh declared Boniface Edigbo guilty of the charges brought against him and sentenced him to death by hanging.

The state’s prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Ijeoma Mike-Ajanwachukwu, commended the judgment, describing it as a warning to those who might contemplate committing such grave crimes.

Investigations revealed that Edigbo and the deceased had been involved in a sexual relationship since 2021, which later caused the young boy serious health issues. The situation escalated when the student reported his condition to his school principal and fellow students, exposing the affair.

To silence him, Edigbo lured Joshua to Edigbo Guest House, where they lodged on the night of May 22, 2023. The next day, Edigbo mixed a soft drink with Sniper insecticide and gave it to Joshua, who consumed it and died shortly after.

Following the incident, Edigbo attempted to flee by confiding in a woman about the crime. While he waited for her to supposedly get him transport money, she alerted the community youths. The suspect was subsequently apprehended and taken back to the hotel, where Joshua’s lifeless body was discovered in Room 006.

Justice Ruth Okeh’s ruling marks a decisive response to the brutal crime, ensuring that justice was served for the victim and his family.