A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Bonny, Rivers State has jailed one Warisenibo Bernard Abbey, a self-acclaimed Chairman of Abbey Chieftaincy House of Bonny Kingdom in Rivers State, Nigeria, for malicious damage to property and for conduct capable of breaching the peace.

In the judgment delivered on Friday, December 8, 2023 in Bonny, Rivers State, Abbey was jailed alongside two others, Blessing Barapakaye and Betty Adedokun.

Delivering judgment in charge number: BMC/51C/2023, which had the Commissioner of Police as claimant and Adedokun, Barapakaye and Abbey as defendants, the Chief Magistrate, Onam Harry-Ayerite said the ‘accused persons are found individually guilty” of the charges preferred against them.  

The Bonny Chief Magistrate handed all three convicted persons two years’ imprisonment or a fine of N50,000 in Count 1; and the sums of N700,000 cumulatively, as compensation to the complainant, one Gentle Abbey, a Bonny based legal practitioner, whose property they damaged.

“On this charge brought before this Honorable Court for hearing and determination AND AFTER hearing the both parties in the pendulum.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED AS FOLLOWS; –

1. That the 1st, 2nd and 3rd accused persons are found individually guilty in counts 1 and 3 respectively.
2. That Betty lyowuna Adedokun, 1st Convict be and is hereby sentenced to 24 months in prison or N50,000.00 in lieu in Count 1, N150,000.00 Only in Count 2 or 2 years in prison and one month in prison or N 20,000.00 in lieu in Count 3. I award the sum of N300,000 only in compensation to the complainant: All terms shall run concurrently.
3. That Blessing Barapakaye, 2nd Convict be and is hereby sentenced to 24 months in prison or N50,000.00 Only in lieu in Count 1; And one month in prison or N 20,000.00 only in lieu in Count 3. I award against you the sum of N200,000.00 in favour of the complainant.
4. That Warisenibo Bernard Abbey, 3rd Convict be and is hereby sentenced to 24 months in prison or N50,000.00 in lieu in Count 1 and the sum of N200,000.00 only awarded against you in favour of the complainant.”

The charges preferred against the three convicted persons which were contained in the charge sheet as sighted by Kristina Reports include:  

“Count 1

That you Betty lyowuna Adedokun “F”, Blessing Barapakaye “F”, Warisenibo Bernard T. Abbey “M” on the 9th day of April, 2023, at Epelema Village Bonny, in the Bonny Magisterial District did conspire amongst yourselves to commit misdemeanor to wit malicious damage and conduct likely to cause the breach of the peace thereby committed an offence punishable under section 517 of the criminal code cap 37 vol. 2 laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.

COUNT 11

That you Betty lyowuna Adedokun “F” and Blessing Barapakaye “F” on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did unlawfully and maliciously damaged water utility pipelines, water closest chamber and sewage safety tank valued at four hundred and fifty-nine thousand naira (#459,000.00) only, property of one Gentle Cyrus Abbey Esq. and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 451 of the criminal code cap 37 vol. 2 laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.

COUNT 111

That you Betty lyowuna Adedokun “F” and Blessing Barapakaye “F” on the same date and place in the aforesaid Magisterial District did conduct yourselves into a manner likely to cause breach of the peace by damaging the utility water pipelines that connects water to the house of one Gentle Cyrus Abbey Esq. in the middle of the event of the burial/thanksgiving of his late father, late Warisenibo Cyrus Adodigha and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 249 (d) of the criminal code cap 37 vol. 2 laws of Rivers State of Nigeria 1999.”

Reacting to the judgment, the nominal complainant, Gentle Abbey praised the Judiciary for upholding the rule of law, and meting out just punishment for breaches of extant laws of the land and sanctity of human habitations.

He expressed optimism that the said judgment would serve as appropriate deterrent to those who deem themselves as purveyors of impunity, advising his kinsmen in Epelema Community to desist from acts capable of tainting the peace, unity and communal atmosphere in the area.

Other concerned stakeholders who reacted to the judgment, albeit anonymously, praised Chief Magistrate Onam Harry-Ayerite for being forthright, courageous and dispassionate in dispensing justice during his time in Bonny LGA.