Reginald Madujibeya was sentenced to death in Owerri after a high court found him guilty of the murder of commercial motorcycle operator, 37-year-old Sylvester Anaele.

According to reports, the murder happened in Anaele’s home in Okwu Amaeze in Owerri. The deceased was allegedly hacked to death by the accused after making several complaints against the sale of Indian Hemp close to his home.

The presiding judge, Justice Nonyerem Okoronkwo, dismissed claims by the accused, Madujibeya, that the kill was not deliberate.

While delivering his verdict, the Justice agreed with the prosecution that the lacerations on the deceased had been the result of a planned attack.

The prosecution had called on several witnesses and argued that the injuries sustained before Anaele’s death had not come from “mere swinging of a machete”.

“I agree with the prosecution that the first accused (Madujibeya) was on a well planned and murderous mission and gave the deceased seveal cuts in very vital parts of his body”, Okoronkwo said.

He added that “the more credible version, which I am inclined to believe, is that after the initial fight over the smoking of Indian hemp around his house, the first accused went home, brought a knife and laid ambush for the deceased”.

The court dismissed Madujibeya’s claims that he was acting on self-defence, explaining that the evidence “has clearly shown that the first accused was on a murderous mission and clinically executed it. I find you guilty as charged. You are to be hanged on your neck until you be dead”.