Court sentences 23-year-old man to death for killing kinsman

Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, the state capital, on Friday sentenced one Menim Udoaya to death by hanging or by lethal injection for killing his kinsman, Ben Clement Ben, in Use Ikot Amama, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of the state.

Menim, 23, was said to have killed Ben after a minor misunderstanding in a village council meeting with his uncle, Friday Ekereke Udoaya.

It was gathered that Menim used wood to hit the deceased on January 4, 2018 at Use Ikot Amama Junction alongside one Ini Friday Udoaya who used machete on the deceased that led to his death, though Ini was not among those paraded.

The presiding judge, Justice Bassey Nkanang, held, “the third accused person, Menim Jolly Udoaya, who is said to have used a piece of wood on the deceased, is also linked as a participant in the unholy display of youthful exuberance that cut short the life of the deceased.”

The case was between the state government against Friday Ekereke Udoaya, Kini Jolly Udoaya, Menim Jolly Udoaya and Saviour Maurice Udom.

The four accused persons were standing trial on a seven-count charge of conspiracy to commit a felony, malicious damage to property, stealing, grievous harm, conspiracy to murder and murder.

In count one, conspiracy to commit a felony, Justice Bassey Nkanang sentenced Menim Jolly Udoaya and his brothers, Friday Ekereke Udoaya and Kini Jolly Udoaya to two years in prison, while in count two, malicious damage to property, he sentenced them to two years in prison.

Nkanang in his judgement said Menim Udoaya should die by hanging or by lethal injection having been found guilty of murder.