A Federal High Court in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State sentences four men to death over brutal killing of a taxi driver
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
Finally, justice has been served over the case of a murdered taxi driver, late Olarenwaju Ajayi, who was allegedly killed during a trip to Onne in Rivers State by a four-man gang of armed robbers in board-day light, as Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced the killers to death.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, July 10, 2025 at the Bayelsa State High Court II in Onopa Yenagoa, the presiding judge, Hon Justice Patience Ama Zuofa Diri in the Suit No. YHC/21/C/2021: The State Vs. Sunday Imon-Essien, Opena Akpabio, Odogha Ebi and Clifford Michael found the defendants guilty for the offences of conspiracy, murder and armed robbery and sentenced them to death.
According to Tentacle sources, the convicts had chartered Ajayi, a commercial taxi driver operating between Yenagoa and Port Harcourt, under the guise of attending a naval programme in Onne, Rivers State.
Mr. Ajayi picked them up at Agudama-Epie and headed to Onne. Tragically, the journey turned fatal at Okogbe in Rivers State.
Under the pretense of relieving himself, the first defendant, Mr. Sunday Imo asked the driver to stop the vehicle, once stopped, the other occupants of the vehicle launched a coordinated attack on Mr. Ajayi. They held him by his neck using a marine rope and stabbed him to death.
After committing the act, the convicts disposed of the body of the deceased and drove the stolen vehicle to Uyo Akwa Ibom State where they sold it for N450,000.
Commenting on the judgment, the Bayelsa State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo (SAN) affirmed the state’s commitment to upholding justice. He emphasized that the conviction underscores the Bayelsa State Government’s zero-tolerance policy towards crime and its unwavering commitment to ensure that criminals face the full weight of the law.
In a related development, controversy has trailed the ruling of the State High Court quashing the 16-count charge brought against two persons accused of killing a husband, wife and two others in a church at Azikoro Community in August 2020.
The presiding judge, Justice I. Eradiri of the State High Court 4, while discharging and acquitting Dankaba Sinime (39) and Dawereghe Raymond (28) of the 16-count intent, declared that the confessions of the accused were allegedly obtained under duress and against the Evidence Act.
Tentacle gathered that the ruling visibly shocked the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Justice Iyobosa and the operatives of the Bayelsa State Police Command.
When one of the defense counsel commended the presiding judge over the ruling of the court, Justice Eradiri dismissed it, while admitting that four persons died.
Also, when the presiding judge was asked on what to do with the AK 49 rifle purportedly recovered from the home of the accused, he directed that the weapon should be handed over to the State Commissioner of Police, CP Francis Idu for safe keeping.
However, the families of the murdered four members of the church, Lion of Judah Church, located at Azikoro Town in the State capital were seen shedding tears at the court premises placing curses on those they accused of denying their deceased members justice.
Some direct relatives openly rolled on the ground, calling on the State Governor, Senator Donye Diri and State Commissioner for Justice, Biriyai Dambo, SAN to take a second look at the ruling and ensure that the murdered persons get justice.
A member of the church identified as Stephen, told Tentacle that “our murdered brothers and sisters were denied justice today by the court.
“The way the justice system in Bayelsa State recycle criminals is contributing to crime in the State. Witnesses identified these accused and the police and the State Justice Ministry found them culpable. But the judge found them innocent of all charges. It is pathetic,” he added.
Recall that on August 5, 2020 at the Lion of Judah Church Azikoro Village in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, shot death four church members, who were identified as Alfred Marcus (30), Imorntimi, Gabriel Ejimofor (54) and Uchechukwu Ejimofor (38) and set ablaze a nearby building, damaged a vehicle and the church property.
Sources told Tentacle that operatives of Operation Puff Adder had earlier traced the hideouts of the cultists in the bush, dislodge them and burnt their camp. An AK 49 rife was recovered from the accused who in their confessional statements written by them and under video coverage, admitted being of members of the notorious cult group known as the Bobos.
