July 29, (THEWILL) – A High Court sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, on Thursday sentenced a 27-year-old Sylvester Emmanuel Ime, to death for armed robbery.
Ime, who hails from Ekit Itam in Itu Local Government Areabof the state, was sentenced by Justice Okon Okon, having been found guilty of robbing Dam Dave Company, located on Idoro Road, near Uyo on 18th December 2016.
The convict, in the company of five others now at large, the court held, attacked security men at the premises of the company and carted away two Mack trucks, valued at N7 million.
In his confessional statement, Ime had told the court that he was contacted through a phone call by one Nonso, from Aba in Abia State, to provide him with security information about the company, which led to the success of the robbery operation.
“We met him at Itam Junction in Uyo at about 9pm and hid in a bush at Idoro Road till 2am when we carried out the robbery operation, after which I was given N100,000 as my share out of the N1.5 million they sold the trucks,” he had told the court.
Luck ran out on the convict as security operatives tracked the stolen phone of one of the security men of the company, leading to the arrest of the accused person through his girlfriend, Victoria.
Ime, a father of one, while giving graphic details of the robbery, listed other members of the gang to include one Eze, Auchi and Chibuzor, all from Abia State, who have not been seen till today.
Delivering his judgement, Justice Okon Okon said: “I can no longer hold my peace on the vexed trend in Akwa Ibom, where armed robbery, kidnapping, child stealing and other crimes are masterminded with external influences.
“Most of the crimes taking place in Akwa Ibom in contemporary times were unheard of in the state, as the people of Akwa Ibom should not be linked with such crimes.”
While commending the State Prosecution Counsel, Barr. Esther Etim, for her resourcefulness in proving cases beyond doubts, the court ruled that the accused person, Sylvester Emmanuel Ime, should die by hanging.
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