Court jails two tricycle robbers for 28 years

Ini Billie, Uyo

Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Okoita in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area has jailed two tricycle robbers for 28 years.

The convicts, 28-year-old Nsikan Friday Tom, and 27 years-old Augustine Gregory were sentenced for robbing a passenger while trying to board a tricycle at Okokon Etuk Street in Uyo.

It was gathered that the convicts, Nsikan Friday Tom, popularly called “Nokia” and an indigene of Akpa-utong in the Ibesikpo Asutan LGA, and Augustine Gregory, from Aka Offot in Uyo robbed their victim of his Lenovo laptop and Gionee M5 phone on August 7, 2016.

Presiding Judge, Justice Okon Okon, who sentenced the convicts to 21 years for robbery and seven years for conspiracy, said the sentences would run concurrently.

Justice Okon found them guilty of two out of the three counts of conspiracy, armed robbery and membership of a secret cult.

The court stated that although the prosecution has not been able to prove that the robbery was accompanied by a gun, there was ample evidence that the convicts robbed their victims of his laptop and phone.

Justice Okon, however, discharged and acquitted the convicts of the membership of a secret cult charge, saying, “There is no law incriminating or punishing the making of confessional statements to the police anywhere.

“The prosecution was seeking the conviction of the defendants because, they confessed at the Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia to be members of an unlawful society.

“While Nsikan Friday Tom, alias “Nokia” and Augustine Gregory are each discharged and acquitted in count three, which is membership of a secret cult, they are each found guilty of conspiracy in count one and robbery in count two and accordingly convicted them”.

The court also discharged and acquitted the second accused person in the charge, Daniel Bassey Okon, a native of Iwuokpom Okpolom in Ibeno LGA of all three counts of conspiracy, armed robbery and membership of an unlawful society preferred against him.

After the judgment, family members of the convicts wept uncontrollably on the court premises.