The Akwa Ibom State High Court presided by Justice Okon Okon has sentenced two members of a three-man robbery gang to death by hanging.
The convicts, Donald John Obot, 35, a barber, and Blessing Christopher Utah, 36, who have been using tricycles to rob their victims, were sentenced to death, having been found guilty of robbing a trader, Esther Victor Akpan after she withdrew one hundred and ten thousand Naira from her bank on Abak Road, Uyo in December 2018.
They include a 35-year-old barber from Nung Obong in Nsit Ubium Local Government Area, Donald John Obot, and a 36-year-old ex-convict from Ibiaku Uruan in Uruan Local Government Area, Blessing Christopher Utah.
They confessed that they had robbed a man of N500,000, another of N200,000, and a woman at IBB Avenue, Uyo, the state capital, of her N131,000.
Justice Okon, while delivering the judgment, found Donald John Obot and Blessing Christopher Utah guilty of conspiracy and armed robbery.
The Court said, “It is bizarre and unfortunate that armed robbers abused public transport system and converted their tricycles to perpetrate crime, leaving their innocent victims with harrowing experiences and tales of woes.”
Justice Okon added that the convicts confessed that their meeting point was Federal Secretariat, Uyo, before they proceeded to monitor banks and ATM points in Uyo metropolis, looking for customers withdrawing money.
The leader of the gang and rider of the tricycle used in the robbery operations is said to have escaped and his whereabouts are unknown.
The Court said, “his days are numbered”, advising him to use his lucky escape to mend his ways and lifestyle.
Justice Okon ordered that the two defendants should die by hanging for armed robbery, while each of them is to serve seven years imprisonment for conspiracy.
The convicts confessed that they also robbed a man of N500,000, and another of N200,000.
Trial judge, Justice Okon, found Obot and Utah guilty of conspiracy and armed robbery.
The sentence came after the three men were convicted on Friday last week on two-count charge of Conspiracy and Culpable Homicide.
The convicts are Terry Kefas, Samson James and Emmanuel Jah. The fourth defendants, Patrick Nyam died last year.
