By Okon Bassey

An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, the state capital yesterday convicted a 27-year-old man, one Sylvester Emmanuel Ime, to death for armed robbery.

The convict, who hails from Ekit Itam in Itu Local Government Area, was sentenced to death by the presiding Judge of the Court, Justice Okon Okon.

Ime was found guilty of robbing Dam Dave Company, located on Idoro Road, Uyo on December 18, 2016.

The court held that the convict, in company of five others now at large, attacked security men at the premises of Dam Dave Company, carting away two Mack trucks, worth N7 million.

In his confessional statement, the convict had told the court that he was contacted through phone call by one Nonso, from Aba in Abia State to provide him with security information about the company, which led to the success of the robbery operation.

While others escaped, Ime was not lucky as DSS tracked the stolen phone of one of the security men of the company, leading to the arrest of the accused person through his girlfriend, one Victoria.

Ime, who is a father of one, listed other members of the gang to include one Eze, Auchi and Chibuzor, all from Abia State, who have not been seen till today.

In his judgment, Justice Okon said he “can no longer hold his peace on the vexed trend in Akwa Ibom, where armed robbery, kidnapping, child stealing and other crimes are masterminded with external influences.”

Justice Okon held that “most of the crimes taking place in Akwa Ibom in contemporary times were unheard of in the state, as the people of Akwa Ibom considered it an anathema to be linked with such crimes.”

The court commended the State Prosecution Counsel, Mr. Esther Etim for her industry and resourcefulness, stressing that the state has proved the case beyond reasonable doubts.

Okon ordered that the accused person, Sylvester Emmanuel Ime, should die by hanging.