After that daring move to rob his victim of her handbag containing recharge cards worth N200,000, a Nokia phone and N16,000 cash, with a machete, a 28year-old- man, Ndifreke Essien Urua has been sentenced to death by a High Court of Justice in Akwa Ibom State sitting in Uyo.
Ndifreke Essien Urua, a native of Ikot Andem Itam was apprehended after robbing the Vice Principal, Academics of Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Andem Itam, in Itu Local Government Area.
The Vice Principal was said to have been in the school premises when the convict struck at about 1:30 p.m. on 25 February 2017.
Essien Urua in his confessional statement blamed his girlfriend —one Victoria, now at large — who he claimed to have notified him that a lady was sitting alone at Community Secondary Commercial School, Ikot Andem Itam and that he should go and rob her.
Urua claimed that after his girlfriend gave him the information, they both quickly went to the school and threatened to kill the 56-year-old Vice Principal, forcing her to part with her handbag.
He further said that it was at the point of selling the NOKIA phone that his girlfriend, who had escaped with other loot, was caught by youths of Ikot Andem Itam village and she confessed their deed, leading to his arrest by the Police.
In his judgement, the trial judge, Hon. Justice Edem Akpan who agreed that the prosecution has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, found Urua guilty of armed robbery, which is contrary to Section 1 (2) of Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and convicted him accordingly.
The convict who is the last child in the family of eight was subsequently sentenced to death by hanging.
Thereafter, the condemned robber pleaded with the Court to temper justice with mercy, saying it was his first time of involved in an armed robbery operation.
