Court sentences man to death by hanging for killing brother

Ini Billie, Uyo

A 29-year-old man, Akaninyene Thomas Okpon, is to die by hanging for killing his elder brother, Friday Thomas Enyenokpon, accused of witchcraft.

The Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo sentenced Akaninyene Thomas Okpon to death by hanging.

It was gathered that Akaninyene, a father of three children alongside his late brother, 37 year-old Ime Thomas Okpon, a co-accused who unfortunately died in custody before the conclusion of the trial, accused their brother, Friday Thomas Enyenokpon for witchcraft and responsible for Akaniyene’s misfortunes.

It was learnt that the two siblings ambushed their brother in the bush popularly called “Usung Atan” farmland in Ikot Abasi Asutan, where he had gone to check his hunting traps, macheted, and beheaded him.

They were said to have buried the head separately on April 8, 2018, the day he was died, an act that shocked and devastated the community.

In his judgment, the trial judge, Justice Okon Okon found that the prosecution established its case beyond reasonable doubt, relying on the defendant’s confessional statement and corroborating evidence.

The court noted that the defendant, in Suit No. HU/5C/2019, a primary three dropout had earlier issued threats to eliminate the deceased and others in the family and later led the Police to the crime scene where the remains of the deceased were recovered.

Justice Okon said, “The sentence of the court upon you, Akaninyene Thomas Okpon, is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead.”

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the murder weapons: two machetes marked as Exhibits 1–1A to the state.