CRIME- 100Level Sociology Student, Benue State University To Die By Hanging For Robbery
A
Makurdi High Court on Tuesday sentenced, Jacob Atongo, a 100-level
sociology student, Benue State University, to death by hanging for armed
robbery.
In
his judgment, Justice Adam Onum, held that he was satisfied with the
confession of the accused to the charges and therefore, found him
guilty.
Onum
sentenced the accused to death by hanging, insisting that the sentence
prescribed under the law for the offence must be followed.
Atongo conspired with two others and robbed Stephen Akuma, and several others at gun point on June 26, 2012.
The
convict and his accomplices robbed Akuma of his Toyota Camry car with
registration number Benue AID 39 AA and other victims of valuables,
including various sums of money.
He
also attacked Judges’ Quarters, Makurdi on July 3, 2012 and robbed no
fewer than 15 people, dispossessing them of various items and money at
gun point.
The offences contravened the Robbery and Firearms Laws.
During
the proceedings, the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and
testified for himself along with one witness called by his counsel.
Prosecution
called seven witnesses and tendered several exhibits, which included
two statements made by the convict to the police.
In statements, according to the prosecution, the convict confessed to the commission of the offences.
But
counsel to the accused, Mr E.Z. Agbakor, argued that the prosecution
failed to prove the case against his client beyond all reasonable doubt.
Agbakor
told the court that the accused did not make the statement tendered in
court voluntarily, insisting his client was tortured and forced to
confess to the offences.
He
submitted further that several “material inconsistencies and
contradictions existed which cast reasonable doubt on the case of the
prosecution’’.
The
counsel pointed out that there was no identification parade conducted
on the accused, and urged the court to discharge and acquit his client.
On
her part, Prosecuting Counsel, Mrs Moji Sule, submitted that
prosecution had established every charge against the accused based on
the strength of his statements.
Sule
argued that there was no need for identification parade where the
accused had identified himself with the commission of the crimes.
Source: NAN
Wat a life...SMH
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