An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced four men to death by hanging for the kidnapping of a 62-year-old retired ExxonMobil employee, Mr. Idongesit Demas Udom, whose hand was amputated after a ransom of ₦5 million was paid.
Court
The convicts are Chinatu Iwe Abraham, 38, from Isiala Ngwa in Abia State; William ThankGod Sunday, 30; Ubon Monday Ebebe, 30; and Saturday Jonah Udo, 43, all from Idung Nneke in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
They were found guilty on three counts of conspiracy, kidnapping, and wounding with intent to maim, disfigure or disable.
Delivering judgement after a four-hour ruling, Justice Gabriel Ette held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. He sentenced the convicts to seven years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, death by hanging for kidnapping, and three years’ imprisonment for wounding with intent to maim.
While pronouncing the death sentence, the judge declared: “May the Lord have mercy on your souls.”
Three other defendants – Kingsley John Akpan, 32; Etimefiok Ime Ezekiel, 37; and Joseph Sunday Etim, 31 – were discharged and acquitted for lack of sufficient evidence.
During the trial, the prosecution presented five witnesses, including the victim, while all seven defendants testified in their defence.
Udom recounted that his ordeal began in December 2016 after community elders opposed a planned “cultist carnival” promoted by the second convict, William ThankGod Sunday.
The elders warned that the advertised activities – smoking, drinking and eating competitions – could corrupt the youths.
Evidence before the court showed that in March 2017, Sunday convened a meeting with accomplices and recruited kidnappers from Abia State after local criminals refused to abduct Udom due to his respected status.
Udom was later kidnapped, ransom was paid, and his hand amputated.
The convicts pleaded for leniency during allocutus, but the court held that the punishment prescribed by law must apply.
Security was heavily reinforced around the court premises throughout the proceedings.
Udom, now in his seventies, was present in court and appeared visibly relieved as the verdict was delivered.
