Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
Akwa Ibom State High Court has sentenced a native doctor, Sunday George Andrew to death by hanging for kidnapping two brothers, Chief Israel Efefiong Utit and Pastor Bassey Utit in the state.
Andrew, who hailed from Ikono Local Government Area of the state, was said to have conspired with others, now at large, to commit the offence on November 29, 2015, and harbored the victims in his shrine at Ikot Enua, Ikono, demanding N50m as ransom.
The convicted native doctor was standing trial with the first defendant, Ibe Francis Emeka, on a six-count charge for conspiracy, kidnapping, and armed robbery, in which he was found guilty.
Meanwhile, the Court discharged and acquitted Emeka due to the failure of the prosecution to prove the ingredients of kidnapping, armed robbery, and conspiracy against him.
Emeka, a native of Abia State, claimed that he was invited to Uyo by his friend “Papa,” only to be taken to a drinking joint at Nkemba Street in the company of one Ukeme Amos, alias “Bishop,” the leader of the gang, and Jude Ihemekwa, alias “Method,” who is currently undergoing trial for another kidnapping case in Uyo.
He said while at Nkemba Street, the gang saw a black Toyota Corolla car and double-crossed it. Before he knew it, “Bishop” and “Papa” dragged the two brothers out of their car to another car and instructed him to go to the front seat, while “Bishop” and the victims were kept at the back of the car, and “Papa” took the victims’ car away.
In a judgment on Friday, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Ette, described Ibe Francis Emeka as “an innocent man and a victim who happened to be in the company of the wrong persons in the wrong place and at the wrong time by inadvertence.
He added that “the only difference between him and the other victims was that no ransom was placed on his head.”