A man, identified as Promise Thompson, has been sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery and child theft.
His sentence was handed over to him by a High Court in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
The suspect and one Beatrice Ogbunka were brought before the court for shooting one Chidiebere Ogbugu and stealing his five-year-old child.
The duo stood trial on a three-count of armed robbery, kidnapping and child theft.
The incident was said to have occurred on October 25, 2018, in Rumuolumeni, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Ogbunka was however said to have fled after she was granted bail by the police.
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Additionally, the presiding judge, Justice Sika Henry-Aprioku also convicted and sentenced a couple, Mrs. Queen Chisom -Lucky to seven years, while her husband, Mr. Lucky was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment for child stealing.
In his judgment, Justice Henry-Aprioku said the prosecution counsel proved that Thompson took the infant to Abia State and sold him to a syndicate who also sold the boy to another syndicate.
It was gathered that the five-year-old boy was rescued from an orphanage home after five months.
Meanwhile, an Ekiti State Chief Magistrates’ Court, Ado Ekiti District, Ekiti State, on Wednesday, ordered the remand of a 28-year-old man, Femi Olotu, in a correctional centre for allegedly breaking into a shop to steal a Point of Sale terminal and phone accessories in the state.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Caleb Leramo, told the court that the defendant committed the offence around 2am on February 2 at Orin-Ekiti, in the Ido/Osi Local Government Area of the state.
The inspector said, “While he was coming out of the shop, a vigilante shot at him and he shouted for help. In the process, neighbours called the attention of the police.”
Rejecting his plea, the Chief Magistrate, Saka Afunso, ordered the remand of the defendant in a correctional centre pending the issuance of legal advice and adjourned the case till May 2, 2023, for mention.