- Bayelsa High Court sentences Joseph Fekala to death by hanging.
- Victim killed during argument over ₦50,000 in Yenagoa.
- Court rejects insanity and self-defence claims.
- Victim’s parents welcome judgement as justice served.
A Bayelsa State High Court has sentenced a 28-year-old man, Joseph Fekala, to death by hanging for killing his girlfriend, Kate Oguoh, during a heated argument over ₦50,000. The judgement, delivered in Yenagoa, marks the end of a three-year trial that shocked residents of the state capital and drew national attention.
Justice Ineikade Eradiri found Fekala guilty of murder, improper handling of a corpse, and burying a body in an unapproved place. The court heard that the incident occurred in July 2022 at Okaka, Yenagoa, after an argument broke out between the couple over ₦50,000 the deceased had earlier given to him.
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Evidence presented showed that Fekala killed Kate Oguoh during the dispute and went on to bury her body inside his room in an attempt to conceal the crime. He was later arrested and charged to court.
In his judgement, Justice Eradiri dismissed the defence’s argument that the convict acted in self-defence or was mentally unstable at the time of the incident. The judge ruled that the prosecution successfully proved that Fekala was fully aware of his actions.
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“The evidence before this court clearly shows that the accused person knew exactly what he was doing at the time of the crime,” Justice Eradiri said.
The court also rejected a plea by the defence to reduce the charge to manslaughter, noting that the facts did not support such a request under Bayelsa State criminal laws.
Before sentencing, Fekala knelt in the dock, pleaded for mercy, and apologised to the family of the deceased. He described himself as a peace-loving person and asked the court for forgiveness.
However, the judge stated that the law allowed no discretion in murder cases and subsequently sentenced him to death by hanging.
Reacting to the judgement, the parents of the deceased, Mr. and Mrs. Theophilus Oguoh, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, thanking the judiciary for ensuring justice for their daughter.
