Man Sentenced To Death For Stabbing Uncle To Death Over Witchcraft Allegation
•By Admin
UYO — AFTER nearly a decade of legal proceedings marked by multiple judicial reassignments, a High Court sitting in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, has brought closure to a murder case involving the killing of a man over allegations of witchcraft, sentencing the accused to death.
The trial judge, Justice Pius Idiong, on Wednesday convicted and sentenced 27-year-old Edinyanga Samuel Akpan to death by hanging for the murder of his uncle, Kufre Godwin Eno.
Akpan was found guilty of a one-count charge of murder, with the court holding that the prosecution established its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The offence dates back to December 4, 2017, at Ikot Inyang, Okon, in Eket Local Government Area, where the convict stabbed the deceased in the chest during a dispute reportedly linked to accusations of witchcraft.
The victim was rushed to Emmanuel General Hospital, Eket, but was later confirmed dead.
Although the defendant had pleaded not guilty at the outset of the trial, he sought leniency at the point of judgment, expressing regret over his actions.
In his verdict, Justice Idiong ruled that the killing was intentional and unlawful, noting that the evidence before the court clearly satisfied the legal requirements for a conviction on the charge of murder.
He further emphasised that murder remains a capital offence under Nigerian law, leaving the court with no discretion but to impose the prescribed sentence.
The judge subsequently sentenced Akpan to death by hanging and offered prayers for divine mercy on his soul.
The case, which spanned about nine years, passed through different judges before reaching conclusion. It was initially handled by Justice Nsemeke Daniel, later reassigned to Justice Ezekiel Enang, and eventually concluded by Justice Idiong after the trial commenced afresh.
The prosecution was led by U.F. Effiong, Assistant Chief State Counsel from the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice, while the defendant was represented by Victor Udeh, Esq.
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