A 48-year-old man, Udobong Stephen Adiahaunwa has been to death by hanging by JUSTICE Gabriel Ette of the High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.
Nigeriacrime.com learned that Adiahaunwa was sentenced after being found guilty of three of four counts of charge involving conspiracy, armed robbery and terrorism.
The judgement attracted wide jubilation among complainants and other indigenes of Idung Ntuk Umah who filled the Courtroom to hear the death sentence passed on a man they say has been terrorising the community for years.
Among numerous criminal activities, records showed Udobong, after being banned from his village for repeated atrocities, invaded on 29 December 2009 with his gang dressed in then SARS uniform and whisked away one Friday Jackson Joe in a Hilux van and was never found till today.
On 28 February 2019, Udobong, a primary five dropout was said to have led another gang invasion in Police uniforms to his community, robbing the Treasurer of the Village, Mr. Ediomo Sunday Udoidio of N970,000 being proceeds from the sales of the community palm fruits.
Udobong was arrested and detained at Akwa Ibom State Police Command’s Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia, but released, prompting the community to petition the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6 Headquarters, Calabar.
In June 2020, the convict was arrested by operatives of the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department, Zone 6 Headquarters, but granted bail and he disappeared with his surety.
From hideout, he sued the complainant and the Police for allegedly breaching his fundamental rights but was rearrested on 4 December 2020 and charged to Court.
In a one-hour judgement, Justice Ette found Udobong Stephen Adiahaunwa guilty of conspiring with gang members now at large and robbing his victims.
The judgement read, “From the totality of findings, I find as a fact that the prosecution has proved counts 1, 2 and 3 against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. I find the defendant guilty and convict him accordingly.
“COUNT 1: the sentence of this Court upon you, Udobong Stephen Adiahaunwa in Count 1 of the charge is seven years imprisonment.
“COUNT 2: The sentence of this Court upon you is that you be hanged upon your neck until you be dead and may the Lord have mercy upon your soul.
“COUNT 3: The sentence of this Court upon you is that you be hanged upon your neck until you be dead and may the lord have mercy upon your soul.” Justice Gabriel Ette held.”