Two Nigerians Sentenced To Death In Ghana For Killing Four Women

A Sekondi High Court in Ghana has sentenced Samuel Udoetuk Wills
and John Orji, both Nigerians, to death over the kidnap and murder
of four Takoradi women in 2018.

The judgement, passed on Friday, came after a seven-member jury
found them guilty on all the eight counts of conspiracy to kidnap
and murder after about two years of hearing the case.

Richard Agyei Frimpong, the trial judge, said the suspects have
the right to appeal the ruling within a 30-day window.

However, if they refuse the option or fail in their appeal, they
will join over 160 people who have been sentenced to death since
1993 in Ghana.

This case, which is of huge interest to the public particularly
the twin cities of Sekondi-Takoradi, is fixated on the president of
Ghana to sign the death warrant as the Ghanaian 1992 constitution
provides that any death sentence will have to be signed by the
president to make it effective.

The two Nigerians were accused of kidnapping and subsequently
killing Ruth Abakah aged 19; Priscilla Blessing Bentum (21); Ruth
Love Quayson (18) and Priscilla Koranchie (15).

The girls were captured between July and December 2018 at
different locations, including Kansawurodo, Butumagyebu, Nkroful
junction all in Sekondi-Takoradi of the western region in
Ghana.

On January 4, 2019, after months of fruitless checks, relatives,
friends and some residents went on a demonstration demanding
justice.
Still searching for the girls, the police finally discovered their
bones in a septic tank in the house of the lead suspect, Wills. A
DNA test confirmed that they were indeed the remains of the four
girls.

After their remains were discovered and further investigations
were conducted including results of the DNA samples taken from
their families, Wills and Orji were charged with conspiracy and
murder.

A Sekondi High Court in Ghana has sentenced Samuel Udoetuk Wills
and John Orji, both Nigerians, to death over the kidnap and murder
of four Takoradi women in 2018.

The judgement, passed on Friday, came after a seven-member jury
found them guilty on all the eight counts of conspiracy to kidnap
and murder after about two years of hearing the case.

Richard Agyei Frimpong, the trial judge, said the suspects have
the right to appeal the ruling within a 30-day window.

However, if they refuse the option or fail in their appeal, they
will join over 160 people who have been sentenced to death since
1993 in Ghana.

This case, which is of huge interest to the public particularly
the twin cities of Sekondi-Takoradi, is fixated on the president of
Ghana to sign the death warrant as the Ghanaian 1992 constitution
provides that any death sentence will have to be signed by the
president to make it effective.

The two Nigerians were accused of kidnapping and subsequently
killing Ruth Abakah aged 19; Priscilla Blessing Bentum (21); Ruth
Love Quayson (18) and Priscilla Koranchie (15).

The girls were captured between July and December 2018 at
different locations, including Kansawurodo, Butumagyebu, Nkroful
junction all in Sekondi-Takoradi of the western region in
Ghana.

On January 4, 2019, after months of fruitless checks, relatives,
friends and some residents went on a demonstration demanding
justice.
Still searching for the girls, the police finally discovered their
bones in a septic tank in the house of the lead suspect, Wills. A
DNA test confirmed that they were indeed the remains of the four
girls.

After their remains were discovered and further investigations
were conducted including results of the DNA samples taken from
their families, Wills and Orji were charged with conspiracy and
murder.