The Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo has delivered a verdict that has left a 28-year-old man, Ndifreke Essien Urua, facing the death penalty for his involvement in a robbery that targeted the Vice Principal of Academics at Community Secondary Commercial School in Ikot Andem Itam, located in the Itu Local Government Area.
The incident occurred during a duty call at the school premises, with the conviction being based on events that unfolded on February 25, 2017, around 1:30 p.m.
The convict, who hails from Ikot Andem Itam, carried out the robbery brandishing a machete and forcefully took the Vice Principal’s handbag, which contained recharge cards valued at N200,000, a Nokia phone, and N16,000 in cash.
In his confession, Essien Urua admitted that he was led to commit this crime by his girlfriend, Victoria, who has since gone into hiding.
Essien Urua said that she had informed him of a lady sitting alone at Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Andem Itam, and encouraged him to rob her.
Acting on this information, they rushed to the school and, using threats, coerced the 56-year-old Vice Principal into surrendering her handbag.
However, their criminal spree was cut short when the local youths of Ikot Andem Itam village apprehended Victoria and recovered the stolen items, leading to her confession and ultimately the arrest of Essien Urua by the police.
In delivering the verdict, the trial judge, Justice Edem Akpan, concurred with the prosecution’s argument that the evidence, especially the confessional statements provided by the accused, had established his guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Accordingly, Justice Akpan found Essien Urua guilty of armed robbery, a violation of Section 1 (2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, and subsequently convicted him.
The court decided that Ndifreke Essien Urua, who happens to be the youngest of eight siblings, would face the death penalty, as the judge offered a prayer for mercy on his soul.
Meanwhile, the convicted robber pleaded with the court to show leniency, citing that it was his first-time involvement in an armed robbery operation.