A Delta State High Court sitting at Obiaruku Judicial Division has sentenced a 38 year old Onyeka Ossai to death by hanging for armed robbery and attempted murder.Justice Nduka Obi found the accused person guilty on the four count charge of conspiracy to commit murder, attempted murder, armed robbery and unlawful possession of firearms.
He was therefore sentenced to death by hanging on the charge of armed robbery.
Justice Obi held that the first prosecution witness was a witness of truth as his evidence was direct, positive and unequivocal.
The Court also held that prosecution was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt essential ingredients of the charges proffered against the accused person by the State.
The accused person was sentenced to 14 years in jail on the count of conspiracy to commit murder, 7 years imprisonment for attempted murder and 10 years in jail for illegal possession of firearms.
Justice Obi condemned the act which he described as wicked and barbaric and declined the plea for leniency by Counsel to the defendant saying that the sentence will serve as deterrent to others.
“I hereby sentence you to death by hanging on the neck till you be dead, may God have mercy on your soul” Justice Obi ruled.
The Prosecution from the Delta State Ministry of Justice had told the Court that Onyeka Ossai and others still at large at Ulogwe Isumpe road Obiaruku within the Obiaruku Judicial Division conspired to murder one Chukwunalu Animam on or about the 1st day of May, 2011.
The Court was also told that the accused person and his gang members macheted Animam and inflicted serious bodily injuries on his head and arm, robbed him of his motorcycle and money.
The court was also told that the accused was found in possession of a pump action gun at the time of arrest.
The accused who admitted in his voluntary statement to the Police to have committed the offence but denied same during trial claimed they attacked Chukwunalu Animam as they suspected him to be a Police Informant who gave information to the Police on their criminal activities.
Dianabasi Effiong
