By Okon Bassey
A 21-year-old man, Ekemini Otuakak Edet, from Oruko community in Orueffong Uruko Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, has been sentenced to death by hanging for armed robbery.
The condemned man had admitted taking part in the robbery of MI AMAN Pharmacy located in Uyo, the state capital, in March last year.
Edet was sentenced to death yesterday by an Uyo High Court presided by Justice Okon Okon.
In his judgment, Justice Okon found the accused guilty of armed robbery, which is punishable by death under Section 1 (2a) of the Robbery and Firearms Special Provisions Act, Laws of the Federation 2004.
The Justice held that the prosecution has “satisfactorily discharged the burden of proving the guilt of the accused in the commission of the crime.
“A confessional statement of the accused, especially where admitted without objection, is equivalent to and has the effect of a plea of guilty.”
The Judge, who described confessional statement as the best evidence, even better than eyewitness account, held that such confessional statement can be relied on solely to convict the accused.
“I, therefore, find the accused guilty and accordingly convict him. The sentence of this court is that you Ekemini Otuakak Edet be hanged by the neck until you be dead,” Justice Okon held.
