A BAYELSA State High Court has convicted the Senior Special Assistant on General Duties to Governor Douye Diri, Mr Prudent Oguruguru, on a two-count charge bordering on assault.
Oguruguru was arrested for inflicting harm on one Ubong Effiong Ubek, which led to the latter being unconscious at Agudama-Epie on February 20, 2024.
He was subsequently arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy, attempted murder, assault occasioning harm, serious assault, and malicious damage before Justice I. A Orukari.
During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty to all the charges, and the prosecution called six witnesses and tendered seven exhibits to prove its case.
Justice Orukari in his ruling noted that the sole issue of determination was “whether by the totality of evidence adduced the prosecution proved the elements of the offences charged beyond reasonable doubt to warrant the conviction of the defendant’’.
The trial judge held that the prosecution failed to prove offences in Counts 2, 4, and 5 bordering on attempted murder, beyond reasonable doubt.
He however ruled that the evidence provided by the prosecution in offences in Counts 1 and 3—conspiracy to commit assault and assault occasioning harm—was satisfactory and proved beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Orukari therefore discharged and acquitted Oguruguru of Counts 2, 3, and 5, however, but found him guilty of Counts 1 and 3.
The defence counsel, Abadiofoni in an allocutus on behalf of his client, pleaded that the Court temper justice with mercy as the defendant is a first time offender.
However, the prosecution counsel, D.J. Olubowale, objected, arguing that it was a settled matter by the Supreme Court that the proper person to take the allocutus is the defendant himself.
Oguruguru in his allocutus pleaded with the Court to temper justice with mercy because he is the sole provider for his young family and aged mother.
Justice Orukari conseqeuently sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment with an option of a fine of N250,000 for Count 1 and also three years’ imprisonment with an option of a fine of N250,000 for Count 3.
He ruled that both sentences would run concurrently.