Bestman Lekia, also known as "Biggie," was found guilty and given a death-by-hanging sentence by a high court in Port Harcourt for the murder of Loveday Mmeabe and the use of her body parts to make pepper soup and plantain porridge in the Okwalie community in the Khana local government area of the Rivers.
Lekia, according to the prosecution's attorney, was a seasoned cultist, arsonist, and cultist who also used his victims' intestines to cook meals like plantain porridge.
He was also found guilty by the court of setting fire to residences in a neighbourhood in the Khana Local Government Area.
The accusations made against him state that at separate points in the Khana local government region, Lekia and other individuals who are still at large kidnapped and killed four people named Gbodu Nobaale, Etim Ekpe, Nenalebarri Mmeabe, and Loveday Mmeabe.
However, the court was informed that in 2019, Lekia and his associates not only killed Mmeabe, the first person they kidnapped but also tore open his stomach and used his guts to create plantain supper in the Okwalie community in Khana.
The test Bestman Lekia was convicted guilty of murder, kidnapping, cultism, and armed robbery by Judge Justice Adolphus Enebeli.
The prosecutor's attorney, according to the judge, was able to establish his case using the required testimony and evidence.
He claimed that the defendant's behaviour during the course of the trial demonstrated that he was a seasoned criminal, cult leader, and terror who, if at all possible, was intended to be hanged four times and killed four times.
He should be hanged until his death is officially declared, according to Justice Enebeli's decision.
Chidi Ekeh, the state's attorney, spoke with Prime 9ja Online outside of court and expressed satisfaction with the ruling.
Ekeh stated, “As a human being, I do not take delight in the fact that he (Lekia) is going to die. But I feel happy that the law and the state did not fail society.
“That Ogoni community will know the peace that they will never see him again. So, to me, it was a hard-nosed judgment. The judge has demonstrated once again that he is worth his salt.”
But the Defense counsel, N. O. Megwari declined to comment on the judgment.