The Rivers State High Court, Port Harcourt, has adjourned the murder trial of Sunny Bekanwa, a former Caretaker Committee Chairman of Khana Local Council and another suspect, Henry Barikui-Dele, to April 3 and 7, as well as May 22 and 28, 2025.
The adjournment, the Guardian gathered, allowed the prosecution to close its case and allow the defendant to potentially commence their defence. Bekanwa and Barikui-Dele face charges of sponsoring cultists, cultism, and the murder of Dr. Lucky Keena and Engineer Deyaa Dunsara in the Kpean community.
They were arrested and arraigned in August 2023. During the trial, prosecution witness Lemii Peteba, the Youth President of the Kpean community, testified that Bekanwa ordered his cult gang to harass traditional leaders, collecting N30 million homage from a construction company in 2005.
Peteba alleged that the gang also flogged elders and leaders, including Degbara Welele and former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Julie Uweka. The prosecution witness claimed that Bekanwa was involved in cult-related activities that held the community hostage for years.
He also alleged that Bekanwa was also arrested in connection with the killing of a military personnel in the Gbangaa oil field, with the investigation still pending before the police.
Trial judge, Sobere Biambo adjourned the case after listening to the witness’s testimony. The prosecution is expected to close its case during the next adjourned dates, paving the way for the defence to commence its arguments.
