A 21-year-old man from Akwa Ibom State has been sentenced to death by hanging for taking part in robbery in March last year.
Ekemini Otuakak Edet, who hails from Oruko in Orueffong/Uruko Local Government Area of the state, admitted to have robbed MI AMAN Pharmacy at 44, Aka Nung Udoe Road.
Edet was, therefore, sentenced Wednesday by the Uyo High Court presided over by Justice Okon Okon.
In his judgment, Justice Okon found the accused guilty of robbery which is punishable by death under section 1 (2a) of the Robbery and Firearms Special Provisions Act, Laws of the Federation 2004.
Okon held that the prosecution has “satisfactorily discharged the burden of proving the guilt of the accused in the commission of the crime.”
He said “a confessional statement of the accused especially where admitted without objection is equivalent to and has the effect of a plea of guilty.”
Justice Okon who described confessional statement as the best evidence, even better than eyewitness account, held that such confessional statement can be relied on solely to convict the accused.
“I, therefore, find the accused guilty and accordingly convict him. The sentence of this Court is that you Ekemini Otuakak Edet be hanged by the neck until you be dead,” the Judge held.
Justice Okon prayed God to have mercy on the soul of the accused.
