MORRIS Asuquo Okon and Mirabel Uche Ogbu have been sentenced to death by a High Court in Ikot Ekpene judicial division, Akwa Ibom State, for kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and theft of children.
The woman, Ogbu, is a native of Nkerefi in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, while her partner, Okon, hails from Abiakpo in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The duo are to face the hangman’s noose for series of kidnappings and stealing of no fewer than 16 children.
The court held that the kidnapped children, including three siblings, Uduak Patrick Oscar (nine), Victory Patrick Oscar (seven), and Treasure Patrick Oscar (five), were seized by the convicts and sold for ritual purposes in neighbouring Aba, Abia State at the rate of N400, 000 each.
None of the kids, it was learnt, had been found alive, after protracted and gruelling investigation, according to a family source.
The trial judge, Justice Festus Ntong Ntong, explained that the crime violated Section 1 (1a) of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law, 2009.
Drawing inferences from the relevant sections of the law which state that “any person who contravenes the sub section, shall on conviction be liable for death sentence,” Justice Ntong said he had no other option than to pass the death sentence.
In the about an hour judgment, the judge found the lovers guilty on all the three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and stealing of children.
“It is despicable when a human being would steal and kidnap fellow humans, more especially very vulnerable children and sold them out for prices of sandals,” Ntong said.
“It is heartless and opprobrious; it is disheartening and unfortunate that these accused persons could take to this kind of trade for livelihood,” he stated further, adding: “The proceeds from this kind of trade is nothing but blood money.”
Revealing the antics of the accused, Ntong said: “These accused persons tried their very best to use one lie to attempt to cover up each other when they stayed long in detention,” even as he likened their escapists’ tendencies to what he called “university crime.”
After pronouncing the accused guilty as charge, Justice Ntong proceeded on break and returned in red attire for the final judgment.
And as soon as the lady saw the judge in a red robe, she broke down and wept uncontrollably, before Ntong sounded the final knell and sentenced them.
Efforts by her boyfriend, who still maintained his composure, to console her proved abortive as the lady cried and sought forgiveness from God.
and then