By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
A High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State has sentenced a 31-year old man, Ubon Udo Edet to death for killing his 22 year-old girlfriend over accusation of infidelity.
Edet, a native of Use Ndon in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of the State, was condemned on Thursday by Justice Ntong Ntong having found him guilty of murder of one Emem Effiok James from Ikot Anyan Itam in Itu Local Government Area of the state.
The convict, an aluminum fabricator, had been living with his girlfriend, a patent medicine dealer at number 2, Joshua Uwa Street, Ekit Itam in Itu for about two years until their love turned sour on 6th December, 2018, when Ubon said he suspected his fiancee of having an affair with his neigbour, one Nsisong.
While the girlfriend was sleeping at about 3am in their one room apartment at Joshua Uwa Street, Ubon said he plugged his aluminium drilling machine to electricity and operated it on his girlfriend, cutting off her neck.
After the act, he escaped through the ceiling, leaving the girlfriend in the pool of her own blood only to report to the Police that armed robbers attacked his fiancee.
In a three-hour judgment read by the trial Judge, Justice Ntong Ntong sentenced the accused to death by hanging.
“How I wished all the Police Officers in Akwa Ibom in particular and Nigeria in general, will always emulate these officers: Inspector Emmanuel Udobong and Inspector Peter Robert to always conduct discreet and thorough investigation of any matter assigned to them. Our society needs these kind of gentlemen par excellence. Police investigation assists the Court to do substantial justice and in this case, I am satisfied with the report of the investigation made by the Police in this case.” Justice Ntong held.
“Death is a mandatory sentence for capital offenses. I do not have any discretion in this matter. In accordance with my oath of judicial office, Ubon Udo Edet, the sentence of this Honorable Court is that, you be hanged by the neck until you are dead,” the court further held.
