A man identified as one Azubuike Ogonor has been sentenced to death by hanging for killing his girlfriend, Blessing Iyumame.

The man's sentenced was given by a High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on Monday.

According to Punch Metro, Ogonor (the convict) was found guilty of setting his girlfriend ablaze after pouring petrol on her body.

It was also learnt that the convict also inflicted machete cut injuries on Iyumame’s body before she was rushed to the hospital.

Delivering judgement on the matter, the trial judge, Justice Chioma Okirie, said Ogonor had confessed to the crime.

According to the judge, the convict committed the crime by pouring petrol on the victim and using matches to set her on fire after pouring petrol on her.

Justice Okirie had also observed that there was no misunderstanding between the man and his girlfriend to have warranted the attack on the deceased after staying together throughout the night without any quarrel.

The court stated that the convict became aggressive after sighting Iyumame with a man and felt she could dump him (Ogonor) for another man.

The tragic incident was said to have happened in the convict’s room.

It was also learnt that the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital in Ahoada before she was transferred to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, where she later died.

Justice Okirie commended parties involved in the case, which lasted for 12 years and four months, for their patience till the day of judgement.

The prosecution counsel, Chijioke Boms, explained shortly after the judgement that the court did justice to the matter.

Boms warned that people must resist the temptation of taking the law into their hands no matter the level of provocation.

Counsel for the convict, N. S. Ibrahim, had pleaded for leniency after the judgement was delivered.

However, Joseph, father of the late Blessing Iyumame, said he was satisfied that her late daughter had got justice at last.