Justice Theresa Igoche of the Makurdi High Court, on Tuesday sentenced two students, Vershima Kaachi and Akaazua Akpen, to death by firing squad for armed robbery.

The convicts were arrested on the eve of Christmas in 2007 for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery, contrary to Sections 5(b) and 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.

In his testimony, the victim of the offence, Jonathan Usenge, told the court that five armed men came to his house, attacked and robbed him of some valuable items on that day.

He stated that the robbers collected his Nokia 1600 phone valued N12,700.00, two torch lights valued N350.00 and a sum of N16,500.

He said the convicts were armed with guns and a hacksaw, and that the clothes they wore on the day of the robbery, his stolen phone and the hacksaw were recovered from them during police investigation.

The prosecution called three witnesses while the accused persons testified for themselves and also called three witnesses.

In his submission, counsel to the convicts, Mr Cletus Ujah, argued that the prosecuting counsel had not proved the allegation against his clients beyond reasonable doubt.

Ujah insisted that the victim was inconsistent in his testimony, arguing that the prosecution's evidence could not be said to be overwhelming to nail his clients.

He further argued that the prosecution failed to tender the hacksaw claimed to have been recovered from his clients before the court which, he said, amounted to withholding evidence.

But the prosecuting counsel, Mr Obande Idikwu, argued that the prosecution had made a case to warrant the conviction of the accused persons.

Idikwu submitted that from the evidence, it could be deduced that there was an agreement to commit an illegal act, which was pursued to a logical conclusion.

Delivering judgment, Igoche held that the prosecution had proved its case against the convicts and found them guilty as charged.

In an allocutus, Ujah pleaded for leniency for the accused persons, pointing out that they were each the only sons of their parents and young boys with a promising future ahead of them, noting that they had no records of previous conviction and were looking very remorseful, and urged the court to temper justice with mercy.

But the judge said the punishment prescribed for offenders under Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms Act was death by either hanging or firing squad, pointing out that it was subject to the governor's discretion. (NAN)

http://www.ipaidabribenaija.com/latest-news/read.php?id=10381

Jonathan Usenge, told the
court that five armed men came to
his house, attacked and robbed him
of some valuable items on that day.
He stated that the robbers
collected his Nokia 1600 phone
valued N12,700.00, two torch lights
valued N350.00 and a sum of
N16,500.
Jonathan Usenge, told the
court that five armed men came to
his house, attacked and robbed him
of some valuable items on that day.
He stated that the robbers
collected his Nokia 1600 phone
valued N12,700.00, two torch lights
valued N350.00 and a sum of
N16,500.
Jonathan Usenge, told the
court that five armed men came to
his house, attacked and robbed him
of some valuable items on that day.
He stated that the robbers
collected his Nokia 1600 phone
valued N12,700.00, two torch lights
valued N350.00 and a sum of
N16,500.
Is that what they re to be killed for eh mtcheeeeeeeeeew
Tell the the judge and prosecutors to take my ping let's talk I can pay them back those nonsense let those boys live eh
Can't they jail them

Hmmm..owkay..wen will dey fire dem?

Are people still being sentenced to death by firing squad?

Pysam: Jonathan Usenge, told the
court that five armed men came to
his house, attacked and robbed him
of some valuable items on that day.
He stated that the robbers
collected his Nokia 1600 phone
valued N12,700.00, two torch lights
valued N350.00 and a sum of
N16,500.
Jonathan Usenge, told the
court that five armed men came to
his house, attacked and robbed him
of some valuable items on that day.
He stated that the robbers
collected his Nokia 1600 phone
valued N12,700.00, two torch lights
valued N350.00 and a sum of
N16,500.
Jonathan Usenge, told the
court that five armed men came to
his house, attacked and robbed him
of some valuable items on that day.
He stated that the robbers
collected his Nokia 1600 phone
valued N12,700.00, two torch lights
valued N350.00 and a sum of
N16,500.
Is that what they re to be killed for eh mtcheeeeeeeeeew
Tell the the judge and prosecutors to take my ping let's talk I can pay them back those nonsense let those boys live eh
Can't they jail them

you must be an armrobber too

afam4eva: Are people still being sentenced to death by firing squad?

has the law changed?

Na wa oooo ....even court wan start their own killings!...when former government officials just collect six months jail term for billions of naira stolen?

Death by firing squad for stealing

I wonder how these our politicians will be killed!

Ujujoan: Death by firing squad for stealing

I wonder how these our politicians will be killed!

In the case of our politicians, there will be another squad firing at the firing squad.

Okija_juju: SWEEEEEEET JESUS!! Two student robbers to die by firing squad for theft worth under 30,000 Naira..

Bode George got 30 Months jail time, ate home made food prepared by his family and stayed in the VIP section of the prison for stealing over 84 BILLION Naira (that was never recovered o!!)..

[b]Did I hear someone say 'Aluu'..

[/b]

I heard u say Aluu eme!

Hmm. Nobody is sentenced to death by firing squad again. That law is so gone.

''Bangs A make them die''

Sadly Singing
IF THERE'S ANY JUSTICE IN THE WORLD.....Things like this just won't happen
Yet another Sad song From African China......POOR MAN WEY THIEF MAGGI DEM GO SHOW IM FACE FOR CRIME FIGHTERS.......

Firing squad, olden days judgement. If they cum steal more than that, they wil b hung and fire to death. Nonsense.

Yea that's how its ruled the first time.. Before going to the Appeal court and they'd just end up in jail and or fine.

[size=15pt]what rubbish how much as that judged robbed Nigerians of since he was born and who sentenced im to firing squad Rubbish

our GOVERNORS, SENATORS, PRESIDENTS......POLITICIANS AND THE SO CALLED CABALS HOW MUCH HAVE THE ROBBED NIGERIAN'S OF.......... AND YET THEY ARE ALL SMILLING

WAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY IS THE LAW ONLY QUOTED AND CARRIED OUT ON THE `POOR' COS AM VERY SURE THOSE GUYS DID DOES TINS TO SURVIVE IF THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROVIDED BASIC AMENITIES FOR THOSE BOY'S THEY WONT HAVE DONE WAT THEY DID

AND NOW THE JUDGE IS HAPILY SENTENCING THEM TO DEIR DEATH COS THEY TRIED TO SURVIVE

BUT THE REAL THIEVES ARE ROAMING ROUND THIS LAWLESS GOD FORSAKING COUNTRY DRAINING THE CITIZENS DRY

[/size]

This judge must surely come frm ALUU Village.

>Bank-OLE (former speaker) is still walkin free on the street despite d fact dat he's been accused of embezzling over billions of naira, while these men on the other hand are sentenced to death by firing squad for theft dat is not up to #40,000?!
>secondly, i'm amazed dat such trivial case has been in court since 2007...5years for pete's sake?! Wtf!

Wouldn't you rather agree with me that nigeria's judicial system is phucked?!

People should stop entering peoples houses and terrorizing them. If you are hungry go and camp outside aso rock. Everyone is facing hard times these days. Face the people putting you in poverty. It is not only what is stolen, but the experience is life altering. In your selfishness, you change someone else's life for the worse. If you have two hands and two feet, go and find a job. Lazy, greedy things. See the poor man they are even robbing. These students again. It is only a matter of time before they kill.

To be truthful the judge is right, because they might become a bigger thieves tomorrow that will even come to your house and steal, if you do not have money they will either kill your mum or rape you. I can never forget the day a thief slap my dad. Kiaaaaa

I ponder on this one, billion of naira is been stolen/looted in the country but none has ever been sentenced but the boys deserve judgment but not by hanging

Did they kill somebody during the robbery?Useless,corrupt and ignorant justice that is devoid of common sense.Judges are like religious fanatics in nigeria,highly deluded without an atom of common sense.

In a country where you steal little and you either go to jail or death is pronounced on you and when you still billions - trillions, you're either a hero or you bag little jail term......Naija, I hail........

Wetin students do nigerians sef?...If these student are to die by firing squad for goods valued at 16k,den our POLITICIANS should die by atomic bomb squad

Better for them to die quick than for them to subjected to a slow death living in our deplorable prisons. *Just a thought! Sad case.....

Lol@nokia 1600. And two torch lights...chai poor robbbers..buh nawa 4 dat judge o to think dat the Boys. Don't deserve LIFE jst because of some lousy nokia phone and. Torch light...lwkmd

Nawaoo. Too bad sha.

Bia! Enough of these killings,whether dey ar guilty or not,why nt sentence dem to prison 4 a lng tym.why z nigeria annihilating her youths? What kind of sh1t is dis?haven't they killd 40 plus 4 studnts only in 2 wks? What is wrng wit Nigeria nd October

Nawaa 4 naija ooo. What day will I not read about death or misfortune?

They should be sent to aluu instead of wasting our bullets