PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria (FN) — A court in Nigeria’s southern Rivers State has sentenced Charles Baridolee to death by hanging for the murder of Gerald Tekena, concluding a case that drew attention to escalating interpersonal violence in the region.
Justice Sika Aprioku of the Rivers State High Court delivered the ruling in Port Harcourt, finding Baridolee guilty of killing Tekena with a machete in the Bodo community of Gokana Local Government Area.
The attack occurred after Tekena allegedly continued providing financial assistance to Baridolee’s family, despite repeated warnings to stop. Prosecutors argued that the motive stemmed from resentment and perceived interference.
During the trial, the prosecution presented eyewitness accounts and forensic evidence that linked Baridolee to the fatal assault. The court ruled that the evidence met the threshold of proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Baridolee, who pleaded not guilty, showed little emotion as the sentence was read. His defense team argued that the killing was not premeditated and requested leniency, but the judge rejected the plea.
Justice Aprioku emphasized the gravity of the offense, stating that the court must uphold the sanctity of life and deter future acts of violence. He ordered that Baridolee be executed by hanging, the prescribed penalty under Nigerian law for capital murder.
The ruling comes amid growing calls for judicial reform and debate over the use of capital punishment in Nigeria, where death sentences remain legal but executions are rare.
Human rights groups have expressed concern over the fairness of trials and the conditions of death row inmates, urging the government to consider alternatives to capital punishment.
Local residents in Bodo community reacted with mixed emotions. Some viewed the sentence as justice served, while others called for reconciliation and restorative approaches to conflict resolution.
Baridolee’s legal team is expected to file an appeal. The case adds to a series of recent high-profile convictions in Rivers State, where courts have taken a firm stance against violent crime.
