A high court sitting in Akwa Ibom State has sentenced a 31-year-old man, Ekerete Michael Ukpong, to death for kidnapping a 4-year-old boy, Success Amos Kalu, who has not been found till date.
Ukpong, a native of Udok Atai in Ikono Local Government Area of the State, was condemned to death after being found guilty of kidnapping, an offence punishable by death, under section 1 (2) of Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law, 2009.
Presiding Judge, Justice Augustine Odokwo, held that the prosecution had notified the Court that the 4-year-old victim, a native of Ohafia in Abia State, kidnapped on September 25, 2015, at Ibiakpan Akananwan in Ikot Ekpene LGA, has not been found.
The judge held that “the convict is taking the punishment alone although records show that he acted in consent with others, who were still at large.
“I have gone through Section 1 (2) of Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law 2009, the section that provides for punishment for the offence of kidnapping. That section of the law provides for only one punishment. I will, in this circumstance, follow the law and the law only.
“The sentence of this Court against the convict is death. His Excellency, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, will determine the means and place of the execution within the State,” he said
The convict had wept profusely in the courtroom before being whisked away by officials of the Nigeria Correctional Centre, Ikot Ekpene.
