Man Sentenced to Death for Stabbing Classmate in Delta

A 24-year-old man, Ebinum Prosper, has been sentenced to death by hanging by a High Court in Kwale for the murder of his classmate, Ojieh Chibogu, in Ugiliama Community.

Justice F. Enemor of High Court No. 2 delivered the judgment on Monday, March 2, 2026, following the conclusion of trial proceedings that began years after the incident.

Prosecution, led by Mrs. Catherine O. Onoberhie-Oberuomo, Assistant Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, told the court that the killing occurred on June 29, 2016. According to the prosecution, Prosper stabbed Chibogu after a disagreement, resulting in his death.

The case, originally filed under Suit No. HCK/89C/2022 as *State vs. Ebinum Prosper*, began in Asaba. During the 2020 EndSARS protests, court documents and exhibits were destroyed in a fire while the case was still at the address stage, delaying proceedings.

After the establishment of the Kwale Criminal Division, the prosecution successfully applied to transfer the case back to Kwale for a fresh trial. Certified copies of the original case file were obtained from the High Court Registry in Asaba to reconstruct the records and facilitate the duplicate file’s transfer.

The defence took more than a year to present its case after the prosecution had closed. In delivering his judgment, Justice Enemor stated that the prosecution had proven the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. Consequently, Prosper was convicted of murder and sentenced to death by hanging.