On Thursday, April 7, 2022, an Akwa Ibom State High Court in Ikot Ekpene condemned one Nsikak Joseph Udofia, age 31, to death for armed robbery and life imprisonment for rape in the state.
The convict, who is a native of Utu Edem Usung in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of the state, was convicted of robbery and rape by Justice Augustine Odokwo.
Udofia, as well as others now at large, were said to have “robbed a shoe mender, Gabriel Akpan Victor, of his torchlight, two knives, a roll of black thread, two palm slippers and a cash sum of two thousand, three hundred and fifty Naira while on his way home from work on 31st December, 2017.”
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Three weeks after, the convict is also said to have raped a 16-year-old SS 2 student in an uncompleted building in Utu Edem Usung, Ikot Ekpene on 21st January, 2018.
In a two-hour judgement, the trial judge, Justice Augustine Odokwo, found the accused guilty of the two-count charge, which are punishable under Section One sub-one of Robbery and Firearms Special Provisions Act, Laws of the Federation and Section three-six-seven of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000.
The Court held that the Prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt that the accused person committed the offenses.
In the first count charge of robbery, Justice Odokwo sentenced Nsikak Joseph Udofia to death by hanging, praying God to have mercy on his soul.
In the second count charge of rape, the Court held that Nsikak Joseph Udofia shall serve a life sentence in Ikot Ekpene Correctional Centre.
Justice Odokwo held that “the sentence is to run consecutively as the offense of rape is prevalent in Ikot Ekpene.”
He ordered the Clerk of the Court to keep in her safe custody, all the exhibits pending appeal, if any, and return them to the parties that tendered the exhibits, if after the period allowed for appeal, no notice of appeal is filed.
The convict, however, wept in the Courtroom, begging the Judge to tamper justice with mercy on him.
