A 34-year-old man in Akwa Ibom State was jailed 10 years for abducting his cousin, a six-year-old boy who was sold out and has not been found till today.
The Akwa Ibom State High Court in Okoita, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, presided over by Justice Okon Okon, sentenced one Kingsley Etim Eyo,a native of Ikot Otoinyie Village in Uruan Local Government Area, was convicted Monday having been found guilty by the Court.
The particulars of the offence show that the convict and one other, had on 19th July, 2018 abducted the six year-old Goodnews Kufre Essien from the custody of his mother who sent him to buy Garri in Ikot Otoinyie Village, Uruan.
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He had pleaded not guilty to the charge leading to the full trial with the prosecution team from the State Ministry of Justice, led by Barrister Comfort Udo, an Assistant Director of Prosecutions, calling three witnesses.
The prosecution also tendered four exhibits, including the Police Investigation Report dated 20th September, 2018 and the confessional statements of the convict in which he admitted that his percentage from the human trade and child selling was N80,000.
“The money that we sold Goodnews is with Joshua. My percentage in that money is N80,000. Yes myself, Denis Joshua went to a native doctor, Cletus from Ikot Akpa Ekong village in Uruan Local Government Area to do charm in order to hide it from people,” the convict said in his extrajudicial statement.
In his judgment Monday, Justice Okon Okon held that “I have thoroughly and meticulously read and reflected on the entirety of the extrajudicial statements of the defendant and have appraised, scrutinised and evaluated same with the evidence of prosecution witnesses and I can infer that the defendant worked in close collaboration with his friends and cohorts in taking away Goodnews Kufre Essien from the custody of his mother, the PW1.”
Justice Okon further held that “I have also taken into consideration the relationship of the defendant with PW1 (his aunt) and the child victim in this case. The defendant betrayed and compromised his close relationship with PW1 and her abducted child who according to the defendant calls him “Uncle”.
The Court said “the prosecution has beyond reasonable doubt, proved the guilt of the defendant for child abduction as charged and I therefore find the defendant guilty. The defendant, Kingsley Etim Eyo is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.”
According to Section 28 (1) and (2) of Child Rights Law of Akwa Ibom State 2008, “no person shall remove or take a child out of the custody or protection of his father, mother, guardian or such other person having lawful care or charge of the child against the will of the father, mother, guardian or other person.
‘‘Such a person who contravenes the provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 10 years.”
The judge said the prosecution, no doubt, proved the guilt of the defendant for child abduction as charged and I therefore find the defendant guilty. The defendant, Kingsley Etim Eyo is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.”
