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Gracious David-West’s Death Sentence, Justice At Last -RSHA
The Rivers State House of Assembly has said that with the conviction of the notorious serial killer, Gracious David-West, by a Port Harcourt High Court, last Friday, the souls of the 11 victims of his callous crimes against humanity have been atoned as justice has been served at last.
This was contained in a statement signed by the member representing Omuma Constituency in Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu, last Friday, in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The statement read, “On behalf of the Rivers State House of Assembly ad-hoc committee saddled with the responsibility of unravelling serial killings that occurred in the state in 2019, of which I served as its chairman, I commend all those who ensured that the victims of Gracious David-West finally got justice.
“When this serial killer was on the prowl, there was apprehension in the entire state, because no one knew who will be his next victim. An ugly development that made the house to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the menace, which was chaired by my humble self; we swung into action immediately, and the suspect was arrested and charged to court.
“Just as you all know, Gracious David-West has been found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging in a landmark judgement delivered by Justice Adolphus Enebeli of the Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt.
“This would serve as a deterrent to other criminal elements in our society. If they do not turn over a new leaf and become law abiding citizens, they would be brought to book, because Rivers State Government is determined to protect lives and properties.
“Finally, I can assure you that, Rivers State can longer experience anything as serial killings in our hotels, because the bill I sponsored on the floor of the house tagged, ‘INN KEEPERS AND HOTEL PROPRIETORS BILL’ will address all the loopholes that Gracious David-West relied on to murder those young ladies”, the lawmaker added.
Also speaking, a representative of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Rivers State Branch, Barrister Kemi Osunaike, said the judgment would serve as deterrent to others who were in the habit of killing others, deliberately causing harm, or raping women, among others, in the state.
She said that with the judgment, FIDA was now relieved that justice has finally been served, adding that female lawyers would continue to fight for the protection of the rights of vulnerable women and the girl-child from predators and monsters among men.
A number of civil society organisations also hailed the conviction of the serial killer, and called on the authorities to take pragmatic action to check the incidence of violence and abuse against less privileged people, especially vulnerable women and the girl-child whose rights had been trampled upon with impunity in the past.
It would be recalled that Justice Adolphus Enebeli of the State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, last Friday, convicted and sentenced Gracious David-West to death by hanging for the murder of 11 young women and attempted murder of one Benita Etim.
The serial killer was found guilty of committing the crimes in different hotel rooms across Rivers State between July and September, 2019.
Justice Enebeli, in his judgment, said the convict, who he described as a serial killer, had endemic misdemeanour, and deserved no mercy to live but to die by hanging following the heinous killings of innocent young girls across hotels in the state.
Justice Enebeli said this while delivering his judgement on Gracious David-West and a female hotel manager in Port Harcourt.
The Tide reports that when the convict was arrested and paraded by the police in September, 2019, he confessed to killing seven young women; one in Lagos; one in Owerri, Imo State; and five in Rivers State.
But investigations by crack police detectives had linked him to about 11 killings at different locations in the state.
According to Justice Enebeli, the prosecution has proven their case and convinced the court that the defendant, Gracious David-West, murdered the 11 young women in Port Harcourt, and also attempted to kill one Benita Etim.
The convict was charged with a 10-count charge bordering on murder and attempted murder, while the second defendant in the matter, who was discharged and acquitted, a female hotel manager, Nimi ThankGod, was charged with one-count charge of misconduct in the handling of a corpse.
The trial judge, however, said the prosecution was able to prove its case in counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 10 of the charges that the convict committed the crimes but failed to prove its case on three-count charges in nos. 6, 8, and 9, due to lack of witnesses and diligent prosecution.
He averred that the convict confessed to have committed the crimes even when he was paraded by the police just as he pleaded guilty to the crimes, adding that Gracious David-West did not show any mental impediment in court, therefore, killed those young women intentionally.
“The way he lured those late young women to hotels without resistance were still anathema, and the gory nature of the deaths of those ladies forces out tears from the people. If the police had not arrested him, he would have surpassed the world record on serial killing,” he stated.
He, therefore, found him guilty on the seven out of the 10-count charges as brought against him by the state.
The second defendant in the case, Nimi ThankGod, a manager of one of the hotels in Port Harcourt, where one of the victims was killed, was however, acquitted and discharged by the court on the grounds that the state prosecuting counsel failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the accused committed the offence.
ThankGod, who faced a one-count charge bordering on misconduct with a corpse, was accused of evacuating the corpse of one of the young females killed in her hotel room where she served as a manager, and dumped the body at a dumpsite along Aggrey Road in Port Harcourt in August, 2019.
The trial judge held that the prosecution failed to produce the actual person that committed the crime, saying that the real identity of the person was still unknown.
The court said that the prosecution failed to prove that the second defendant was the actual person even though she was the manager, adding that she could not be punished for an offence she has not be found culpable.
He, therefore, upheld her counsel’s submission that the court cannot convict the second defendant based on public sentiment but on convincing and verifiable evidence.
Justice Enebeli, who agreed with the second defendant’s counsel, discharged and acquainted Nimi ThankGod.
Earlier, Counsel to David-West, Barrister Vincent Chukwu, had pleaded with the court for leniency on the grounds that his client was a father of three young children.
He said his plea became imperative because the convict has three children, adding that granting him leniency would enable him take care of his young children.
Chukwu noted that he was awaiting the brief of his client, adding that depending on the directive he gets, he may proceed to appeal the judgment up to the Supreme Court, as the law provides for the protection of the rights of the convict until otherwise ordered by the apex court.
However, the state lead prosecuting counsel, Barrister Chidi Ekeh, said the first defendant (David-West) did not deserve any leniency as he never showed mercy to his victims, and urged the court to ensure justice in the matter.
Ekeh told newsmen shortly after, that the judgment would serve as a deterrent to others with such intensions of crime, adding that the second defendant was let off the hook because it was difficult to prove to the court that the accused committed the crime.
He said: “With respect to the second defendant, she escaped by the whiskers, not that the offence with which she was charged was not committed, but it was difficult to determine who exactly did it as the witnesses who would have ordinarily provided that answer suddenly disappeared from the state until date.
“I am happy that this judgment was given, it would serve as a deterrent to all such persons with such dispositions, who are always taking to crime, to know that there are consequences.”
In his view, counsel to the second defendant, Barrister Lesina Amagwa, lauded the judgement, saying that it has once again restored confidence in the Judiciary as the last hope of the ordinary citizens in the society.
He pleaded with the prosecution not to go ahead with any appeal against the judgement in respect to his client.
The Federal Government has honoured 12 teachers from across the country with national awards, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the education sector through improved welfare, incentives, and professional development for teachers.
The awards were presented yesterday at the Nigeria Teachers’ Summit 2026, held in Abuja, where the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, stated that the government would sustain reforms aimed at empowering teachers and restoring dignity to the profession.
Alausa explained that the selection process was transparent and merit-based, with three teachers nominated from each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory at both the basic and senior secondary school levels.
From the pool of nominees, 12 teachers; six from basic education and six from senior secondary education, emerged as national award recipients.
Each of the 12 awardees received a cheque of N25m.
The Overall Best Teacher of the Year, Solanke Taiwo from the South-West category, received an additional N25m, bringing his total prize to N50m.
In addition to the cash prize, Taiwo is to receive a brand new car from the Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, as well as a fully furnished two-bedroom flat from the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
Also, the Governor of Kebbi State, Nasir Idris, pledged to give each of the award winners an additional N5 million.
The minister described the awardees as exemplifying professionalism, integrity, innovation and dedication to learners, noting that they represent the best of the teaching profession in the country.
“This is more than a reward. It is a national signal that teaching is a noble, respected, and valued profession in Nigeria,” he said.
Speaking at the summit themed ‘Empowering Teachers, Strengthening the System: A National Agenda for Education Transformation and Sustainability,’ the minister said the recognition of the teachers reflected the FG’s broader education reform agenda under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Teachers are the foundation of education, and education is the foundation of national development. No nation can rise above the quality of its teachers.
“No reform, no matter how well designed, can succeed unless teachers are empowered, motivated, supported, and respected,” Alausa said.
He pledged that the government would continue to invest in teachers through structured training, improved career pathways and fair rewards, noting that education remained central to national development.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, he said, “sustainable development, economic growth, innovation, and social cohesion depend on a strong and responsive education system and that system depends on teachers.”
As part of this commitment, the minister announced the launch of EduRevamp, a nationally coordinated Continuous Professional Development programme designed to modernise teacher training and improve classroom outcomes.
While the programme is open to teachers in both public and private schools, Alausa said performance-based incentives would be reserved for public school teachers who complete certified training.
“Professional growth must never be restricted. Every teacher deserves access to quality training, modern tools, and updated skills,” he said, adding that incentives would be tied to measurable performance.
He also highlighted complementary initiatives, including the Ignite digital platform to reduce teacher workload, the Diaspora Bridge programme to strengthen STEMM education, and the provision of 60,000 tablets for teachers with zero-data access to approved training platforms.
The minister further announced reforms to the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria’s digital platform, the expansion of Communities of Practice, and progress on the Accelerated Teacher Training Programme aimed at fast-tracking professionalisation for in-service teachers.
To provide long-term stability, he said the government had introduced a National Teacher Policy to guide teacher development, welfare and professional standards nationwide.
Addressing the award recipients and other educators at the summit, Alausa described the government’s message as “professional growth, dignity in service, and renewed hope,” urging stakeholders to focus on tangible outcomes in classrooms across the country.
In her welcoming remarks, the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmad, underscored the central role of teachers in Nigeria’s education reform agenda.
Ahmad said the gathering was both timely and strategic, noting that the quality of any education system is inseparable from the quality, motivation and empowerment of its teachers.
She explained that the theme aligns directly with Nigeria’s current education priorities.
According to her, investing in teachers is the bedrock of sustainable reform and national development.
“Empowering teachers is not an isolated intervention; it is the foundation upon which sustainable education reform is built.
“When teachers are supported, trained, motivated, and valued, the entire system is strengthened, learning outcomes improved, equity expands, and national development is accelerated,” she said.
Describing the summit as a strategic national platform, Ahmad said it was designed to unite key stakeholders to address challenges in the education sector and advance practical reforms.
She noted that the forum brings together teachers, policymakers, education leaders, regulators, unions, development partners and private sector actors to strengthen teaching and learning outcomes nationwide.
In his goodwill message, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Audi Amba, described the summit as a historic milestone in the recognition of teachers’ roles in national development.
Nigeria’s education sector has continued to grapple with longstanding challenges, particularly around teacher welfare, access to regular professional development, classroom capacity and infrastructure.
These issues have raised concerns among stakeholders about the quality of teaching and learning in many public schools. At the same time, industrial actions by education unions in recent years have further highlighted the pressures facing educators nationwide.
The Rivers State Government has declared that it draws its confidence from the assurance that God is more than sufficient to guide its leaders, strengthen its institutions, and sustain its communities in peace and progress.
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?Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, made this declaration during the 2026 Holy Ghost Rally organised by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt, on Sunday.
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?Speaking through his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu, the governor stated that “with the Almighty God on our side, our challenges are surmountable and our future remains hopeful,” noting that the theme of this year’s rally, “The All-Sufficient God,” is both timely and reassuring.
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This was contained in a statement from the office of the Deputy Governor, signed by the Head of Press, ?Owupele Benebo.
?According to Fubara, the theme serves as a powerful reminder that in a world filled with uncertainty, God remains our unfailing source, sufficient in wisdom, strength, provision, and grace.
He stressed that when human ability reaches its limit, God’s sufficiency prevails.
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?The governor commended the Redeemed Christian Church of God for its consistent spiritual impact and unwavering prayers for Rivers State and the nation, expressing appreciation for the Church’s contributions to promoting moral values, unity, and faith in God.
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?In his sermon, drawn from Genesis 17:1, the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, described the Almighty God, whose name is above every other name, as all-sufficient and capable of meeting every human need.
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?He noted that the God who created all things also has the power to repair and restore them.
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?Adeboye explained that while human effort, including medical intervention, may reach its limits, there comes a point where only God steps in to turn situations around, bringing hope where none seemed possible.
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?In his address, the Pastor in charge of the Rivers Family of the RCCG, Pastor Adesoji Oni, stated that the Port Harcourt Holy Ghost Rally, which began in 2015 and has now become an annual event, has been a tremendous blessing to the people of the State.
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Adesoji noted that the rally has drawn thousands of souls to God while impacting lives spiritually and physically.
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?He further disclosed that the Church has gone beyond preaching the gospel to actively engage in impactful initiatives through its Christian Social Responsibility programmes.
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?These include skills acquisition centres, maternity centres across the State, a rehabilitation centre for persons battling substance abuse, and an Innovative Mind Hub.
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