Makurdi – 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.(NAN)


source: vanguard