A 28-year-old man is facing death penalty for robbing the Vice Principal (Academics) at Community Secondary Commercial School in Ikot Andem Itam in Itu Local Government Area.
Ndifreke Essien Urua, the convict, who hails from Ikot Andem Itam, was found to have brandished a machete and forcefully collected the Vice Principal’s handbag, that contained recharge cards with N200,000, a Nokia phone, and N16,000 cash.
In a confessional statement, Urua said on February 25, 2017, around 1:30 p.m. he visited the school premises.
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He admitted that his girlfriend, Victoria who has since gone into hiding compelled him to have committed the crime.
The convict said she informed him of a lady sitting alone at Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Andem Itam, and encouraged him to rob her.
Acting on this information, they rushed to the school and, using threats, coerced the 56-year-old Vice Principal into surrendering her handbag.
However, their criminal spree was cut short when the local youths of Ikot Andem Itam village apprehended Victoria and recovered the stolen items, leading to her confession and ultimately the arrest of Essien Urua by the police.
In delivering the verdict, the trial judge, Justice Edem Akpan, of Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo concurred with the prosecution’s argument that the evidence, especially the confessional statements provided by the accused, had established his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Accordingly, Justice Akpan found Essien Urua guilty of robbery, a violation of Section 1 (2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and subsequently convicted him.
The court decided that Ndifreke Essien Urua, who happens to be the youngest of eight siblings, would face the death penalty, as the judge offered a prayer for mercy on his soul.
Meanwhile, the convicted robber pleaded with the court to show leniency, citing that it was his first-time involvement in a robbery operation.
