Two armed robbers, Donald John Obot, 35, a barber, and Blessing Christopher Utah, 36, an ex-convict, were sentenced to death by hanging by the Akwa Ibom State High Court on Thursday in Uyo, the state’s capital.
The two were found guilty of plotting to steal N110,000 from one Esther Victor Akpan.
After their victim withdrew the specified amount from her bank in December 2018, it was alleged that they carried out the operation at Abak Road in Uyo.
The prisoners admitted to robbing three people in their confessional statements: a man of five hundred thousand naira, another person of two hundred thousand naira, and a woman at IBB Avenue of one hundred and thirty-one thousand naira.
Justice Okon Okon, the trial judge, found Donald John Obot and Blessing Christopher Utah guilty of conspiracy and armed robbery while giving the verdict.
The judge said, “It is bizarre and unfortunate that armed robbers abused the public transport system and converted their tricycles to perpetrate crime, leaving their innocent victims with harrowing experiences and tales of woes.”
According to Justice Okon, the defendants admitted that they planned to meet at the Federal Secretariat in Uyo to watch for people withdrawing cash from ATMs and banks.
According to reports, the gang’s leader—who also drove a tricycle used in the operations—has disappeared and hasn’t been found till today.
The court advised him to take advantage of his fortunate escape to change his habits and lifestyle because “his days are numbered.”
The two defendants were sentenced to death by hanging, and Justice Okon prayed for God to have mercy on their souls.
