A High Court in Idah, Kogi, has sentenced one Ocholi Edicha to 12 years and six months in prison over his involvement in the killing of Mrs. Salome Abuh, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women leader in the state.
Abuh was burnt alive in her house in Ochadamu, Ofu Local Government Area of the state, during the collation of the November 2019 governorship election result.
After the incident, the police paraded six suspects, including Edicha.
He was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, mischief by fire, and culpable homicide.
In a judgment, Justice Fola Ajayi, the judge, convicted the defendant on all the counts levelled against him.
Justice Ajayi who delivered on Wednesday, held that he agreed with the oral testimony canvassed by witnesses and statements made to the police.
Although the defendant had denied making a statement to the police, he accepted some aspects of the statement, which was later admitted by the court.
A total of five witnesses were called during the trial.
Reacting to the judgment, Mr. Otigbe Joseph, prosecuting counsel from the state Ministry of Justice, said the court’s decision was surprising, adding that the punishment handed down to the defendant was not enough compared to the offences committed.
He said the judgment would be contested at the Court of Appeal.
