Court sentences 2 cops, 3 others to death for kidnapping cattle dealer

The Akwa Ibom state High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene presided over by Justice Eno Isangedighi has sentenced two police officers and three others to death for kidnapping an Uyo-based cattle dealer, Alhaji Muhammad Umar Barkindo.

The condemned police officers are Corporal Friday Udo, a native of Ikot Inyang in Oruk Anam local government area and Corporal Saturday Okorie of Ikot Etenge also in Oruk Anam who had since been dismissed from the Force.

Also condemned, were Walter Jack Udo, a native of Iwok Nsit in Nsit Atai, Udo Moses Akpaetuk of Ikot Ada Idem, Ibiono Ibom, and Udo Okon Etim from Ikot Asua in Nsit Atai whose house was used to keep the victim while demanding N100 million ransom.

The judgement thus laid to rest the 10-year trial of the eight-man squad who were also linked to the kidnapping of a medical expert at the University of Uyo, Dr. Ini Enang, in August 2011.

The three other accused died in the course of their trial.

In her judgement, Justice Eno Isangedighi held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubts and found the accused guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping Alhaji Muhammad Umar Barkindo on November 25, 2011, an offence punishable by death in Section 1 sub-section 2 of Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law 2009.