*Kindred jubilate
By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
A 48-year old Udobong Stephen Adiahaunwa, a suspected leader of Iceland cult group known to have been terrorising Idung Ntuk Umah in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State with his gang, has been sentenced to death.
Adiahaunwa, a father of two and brother to the late village head of Idung Ntuk Umah, Chief Stephen Gabriel Adiahaunwa, was condemned by the State High Court sitting in Uyo today.
The court presided over by Justice Gabriel Ette was delivering a judgment on a four-count charge of conspiracy, armed robbery and terrorism levelled against the convict by the state, a case that started from the High Court, Oruk Anam and later transferred to Uyo Judicial Division.
The particulars of the case show that Udobong Stephen Adiahaunwa who was earlier banned from his village because of his atrocities, stormed the community on December 29, 2009 with his gang dressed like SARS Police operatives and whisked away one Friday Jackson Joe in a Hilux vehicle to an unknown location and has not been found till today.
Again, on February 28, 2019, Udobong, a primary five dropout, was said to have brought cultists in Police uniforms to his community and robbed the treasurer of the village, Mr. Ediomo Sunday Udoidio of N970,000 being the proceeds from the sales of the community palm fruits.
As if that was not enough, on April 29, 2021, he again imported cultists in Army uniform and robbed the Village Palm Estate Treasurer, Mr. Ubong William Henry of N850,000 being the money the Idung Ntuk Umah realised from sales of palm fruits.
It is also on record that on June 5, 2020, the convicted armed robber returned to his village with members of his secret cult and forcefully initiated teenagers into the group, forcing many to flee from the village while others continue to live in fear.
Udobong was arrested and detained at Akwa Ibom State Police Command’s Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia but was released, prompting the community to petition the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6 Headquarters, Calabar.
In June, 2020, the convict was arrested by operatives of the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department, Zone 6 Headquarters, but was granted bail and he disappeared with his surety.
While in his hideout, he sued the complainant and the Police for breaching his fundamental rights and was rearrested on December 4, 2020 and charged to court.
In an hour judgment, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Ette found Udobong Stephen Adiahaunwa guilty of conspiring with his gang members now at large and robbing his victims and sentenced him to death by hanging.
“From the totality of my findings, I find as a fact that the prosecution has proved counts 1, 2 and 3 against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. I find the defendant guilty and convict him accordingly.
“COUNT 1: the sentence of this Court upon you, Udobong Stephen Adiahaunwa in Count 1 of the charge is seven year imprisonment.
“COUNT 2: The sentence of this Court upon you is that you be hanged upon your neck until vou be dead and may the Lord have mercy upon your soul.
“COUNT 3: The sentence of this Court upon you is that you be hanged upon your neck until you be dead and may the Lord have mercy upon your soul.” Justice Gabriel Ette held.
The judgment day attracted the complainants and other indigenes of Idung Ntuk Umah who filled the Courtroom to the brim, forcing the authorities to lock the entrance to the Court premises which is a stone’s throw from the Government House, Uyo
The Idung Ntuk Umah community celebrated the condemnation of a man they described as “a terror and a nightmare to his community” and applauded Justice Gabriel Ette for his erudite judgement in restoring the confidence of the people in the judiciary.
