Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, on Thursday sentenced one 27-year-old Sylvester Emmanuel Ime to death by hanging for armed robbery.
Ime, a native of Ekit Itam in Itu Local Government Area, was convicted by Justice Okon Okon, having been found guilty of robbing Dam Dave Company, located on Idoro Road, Uyo on 18th December 2016.
The Court held that the convict, in the company of five others now at large, attacked security men at the premises of Dam Dave Company, carting away two Mack trucks, worth seven million Naira.
The convict had, in his confessional statement, told the Court that he was contacted through a phone call by one Nonso, from Aba in Abia State to provide him with security information about the company, which led to the success of the robbery operation.
He said they met him at Itam Junction in Uyo at about 9 pm and hid in a bush at Idoro Road till 2 am when they carried out the robbery operation, after which he was given one hundred thousand Naira as his share of the proceed from N1.5m they sold the trucks.
While others escaped, Ime was not lucky as DSS tracked the stolen phone of one of the security men of the company, leading to the arrest of the accused person through his girlfriend, one Victoria.
Ime, who is a father of one, while giving details of the robbery, listed other members of the gang to include one Eze, Auchi and Chibuzor, all from Abia State, who have not been seen till today.
However delivering judgment, Justice Okon Okon said he “can no longer hold his peace on the vexed trend in Akwa Ibom, where armed robbery, kidnapping, child stealing, and other crimes are masterminded with external influences.”
Justice Okon also stated, “Most of the crimes taking place in Akwa Ibom in contemporary times were unheard of in the State, as the people of Akwa Ibom considered it an anathema to be linked with such crimes.”
Okon commended the State Prosecution Counsel, Barr. Esther Etim for her industry and resourcefulness, stressing that the State has proven the case beyond reasonable doubts.
Justice Okon ordered that the accused person, Sylvester Emmanuel Ime should die by hanging.