Bayelsa Court Sentences Two to Death by Hanging Over 2022 Killing of Diri’s In-Law, Two Others
By Our Correspondent – A Bayelsa State High Court has sentenced two men to death by hanging for their involvement in the 2022 killing of Governor Douye Diri’s in-law, Odeinyefa Ogbolosingha, the Paramount Ruler of Kalaba Community, Kolibo Francis Amabelimo, and the community’s CDC Chairman, Samuel Oburo.
The victims were killed in Kalaba Community, Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
The convicts, Gideon Atama, 32, and Clever OVO, 33, were arrested by a police investigation team attached to the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), formerly known as Operation Puff Adder, led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo.
They were charged with conspiracy, kidnapping, murder and attempted murder in suit number BYHC/YHC/CR/32/2025.
One of the accused persons, 50-year-old Bethlehem Nwanlia, reportedly slumped and died within the premises of the Bayelsa State High Court on October 27 while awaiting the court’s ruling on the matter.
Nwanlia reportedly died from complications arising from high blood pressure and stroke, which he was said to have developed while in custody at the Okaka Medium Correctional Centre.
Delivering judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Micheal Amadise Ekade, convicted the two defendants and sentenced them to death by hanging after considering the evidence presented before the court.
Meanwhile, family members of the deceased victims expressed appreciation to the police operatives of the VCRU, led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, and the Bayelsa State Government, through the Ministry of Justice, for what they described as the swift arrest of the suspects, diligent investigation and prosecution of the case.
