Court sends weeping man to gallows for kidnapping four-year-old boy
Akwa Ibom State Court sends a weeping man to gallows for kidnapping four-year-old boy. Akwa Ibom State High Court still sent a 31-year-old man to gallows for kidnapping a four-year-old boy, who has not been found till today.
The convict, Ekerete Michael Ukpong, a native of Udok Atai in Ikono Local Government Area before the sentence was seen weeping uncontrollably in the court hall.
The court in Ikot Ekpene, presided by Justice Augustine Odokwo, found Ukpong guilty of kidnapping, punishable by death, under section 1 of Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law, 2009 on Thursday.
In a one-hour judgment, Odokwo held that the prosecuting counsel has notified the court that the victim, a four-year-old Success Amos Kalu, a native of Ohafia in Abia State, who was kidnapped September 25, 2015, at Ibiakpan Akananwan, Ikot Ekpene, is yet to be found.
Court sends weeping man to gallows for kidnapping four-year-old boy
He said kidnapping is prevalent in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State and Nigeria at large, hence all hands must be on deck to rid society of the menace, which he noted, “has assumed a hydra-headed dimension.”
The Court held that “the convict is taking the punishment alone although records show that he acted in consent with others, who are now at large. I have given due consideration to plea for mercy and forgiveness by the convict and his learned counsel.”
The Justice said “the judgment should send a clear signal to all and sundry that the full weight of the law will descend on kidnappers.”
“I have gone through Section 1 (2) of Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law 2009, the section that provides for punishment for the offense of kidnapping. That section of the law provides for only one punishment. I will in this circumstance, follow the law and the law only. The sentence of this Court against the convict is death,” Justice Odokwo pronounced.
The Court held that “His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State will determine the means and place of the execution within the State.”
Before the sentence, Justice Odokwo had changed to a black cap, with the convict weeping uncontrollably in the Courtroom, before he was whisked away by officials of Nigeria Correctional Centre, Ikot Ekpene.
