By Ephraim Emmanuel
An Investigating Police Officer (IPO) has told a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt that one of the defendants, Leesor Kpugisere, voluntarily confessed to his involvement in the 2019 murder of a pharmacist in the Zaakpo community of Khana Local Government Area.
Testifying before the court, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Ntibmouwei stated that the victim, Muanalo Sunday, was killed on March 5, 2019.
According to the IPO, Kpugisere fled the community immediately after the incident to evade arrest. He was, however, later apprehended by operatives of the State Police Command’s Anti-Cultism Unit during a targeted surveillance operation.
ASP Ntibmouwei further testified that upon his arrest, the defendant was interrogated and subsequently made a confessional statement admitting to his active role in the killing of the pharmacist.
The presiding judge, Justice Augusta Kingsley-Chukwu, admitted the testimony and adjourned the case until November 24, December 1, and December 8, 2026, for the defense to open its case.
Leesor Kpugisere is also standing trial in a separate case involving the alleged attempted murder of prominent Ogoni activist, Gani Topba, in March 2023.
