July 23, (THEWILL) – A State High Court sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, has sentenced a 31-year-old man, Ubon Udo Edet, to death by hanging, for killing his 22-year-old girlfriend over alleged infidelity in 2018.

Edet, a native of Use Ndon, in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area, was condemned by Justice Ntong Ntong, having found him guilty of murder of one Emem Effiok James, from Ikot Anyan Itam in Itu Local Government Area.

In his judgement, Justice Ntong Ntong recalled that the convict was an aluminium fabricator, who had lived with his girlfriend; a patent medicine dealer at 2, Joshua Uwa Street, Ekit Itam, in Itu, for about two years until their love turned sour on 6th December, 2018, when the convict suspected his girlfriend of having an affair with a neighbour.

Continuing, Justice Ntong said police investigation revealed that the girlfriend was sleeping at about 3am in their one room apartment, when the convict connected his aluminium drilling machine to power and operated it on his girlfriend, cutting off her neck.

He said the convict escaped through the ceiling, leaving the girlfriend in the pool of her own blood and rushed to report to the Police that armed robbers had attacked his girlfriend.

“How I wished all the Police Officers in Akwa Ibom in particular, and Nigeria in general, will always emulate these officers: Inspector Emmanuel Udobong and Inspector Peter Robert, to always conduct discreet and thorough investigation of any matter assigned to them.

“Our society needs these kinds of gentlemen par excellence. Police investigation assists the Court to do substantial justice and in this case, I am satisfied with the report of the investigation made by the Police”, Justice Ntong held.

“Death is a mandatory sentence for capital offences. I do not have any discretion in this matter. In accordance with my oath of judicial office, Ubon Udo Edet, the sentence of this Honourable Court is that, you be hanged by the neck until you are dead”, he ended.