By Amaechi Okwara
Asaba
A Delta State High Court sitting in Ozoro, Isoko North local government area of the state, yesterday, sentenced a 38-year-old farmer, Mr. Francis Williams to death by hanging for robbing his victims of a Nokia handset worth N5, 000 and the sum of N170, 000.
The Court, presided over by Justice A.O. Akpovi, sentenced the 38 year old to death having found him guilty of armed robbery, punishable under section (1(2)(a) of the robbery and firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap RII Volume 14 Laws of the Federation, 2004.
The Court also found the convict guilty of wounding his victim with intent to kill, and illegal possession of firearms, which attracted life sentence with a sentence of 10 years imprisonment, respectively.
Assistant Director in the Ministry of Justice, T.R. Anuhwin Esq. through prosecution witnesses, had told the court that on the 4th day of June, 2014 at a palm kernel farm located at Ewu in Ughelli South local government, the convict robbed one Hon. Noah Ovie and his assistant of a Nokia handset valued at N5, 000 and a cash sum of N170, 000 while armed with a cut to size locally made gun.
Prosecution witnesses further told the court that, nemesis however caught up with the armed robber, who was on a solo mission when he was in the process of trying to rob them of their valuables.
The witnesses further told the court that two victims summoned courage and overpowered their assailant.
He added that, in his desperation to escape after being apprehended, the convict bit off one of the fingers of Noah Ovie but his bid to escape was foiled by passersby, who rushed to the scene and held him down and later handed him over to the police.
The convict, who made a confessional statement to the police, admitted to have committed the offence but denied during the trial.
