By: PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Okoita, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area has on Tuesday, sentenced two persons to 28 years in prison for robbing a passenger while trying to board a tricycle at Okokon Etuk Street in Uyo.
The convicts are, Nsikan Friday Tom, popularly called “Nokia”, a 28 year-old indigene of Akpa-Utong in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area; and Augustine Gregory, 27 year-old native of Aka Offot in Uyo.
They were convicted and sentenced by Justice Okon Okon having found them guilty of two out of the three counts charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and membership of a secret cult.
In a one-hour judgment, Justice Okon sentenced the two to 21 years imprisonment for robbery and seven years in prison for conspiracy and held that the sentences are to run concurrently.
The court said although the prosecution has not been able to prove that the robbery was accompanied by gun, there was ample evidence that the victim was robbed of his Lenovo laptop and Gionee M5 phone by the two convicts on 7th August, 2016.
Justice Okon however discharged and acquitted the convicts of the charge of membership of a secret cult, saying “there is no law incriminating or punishing the making of confessional statements to the Police anywhere.”
The court explained that, “the prosecution was seeking the conviction of the defendants because, they confessed at the Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia to be members of an unlawful society.”
Justice Okon also held that, “while Nsikan Friday Tom, alias “Nokia” and Augustine Gregory are each discharged and acquitted in count three, which is membership of a secret cult, they are each found guilty of conspiracy in Count one and robbery in Count Two and accordingly convicted them.”
The court also discharged and acquitted the second accused person in the charge, Daniel Bassey Okon, a native of Iwuokpom Okpolom in Ibeno Local Government Area, of all the three counts charges of conspiracy, armed robbery and membership of an unlawful society preferred against him.
