Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The people of Idung Ntuk Umah in Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State can now heave a sigh of relief and sleep with their two eyes closed as the suspected leader of the Iceland cult group that has been terrorising the community with his gang, has been sentenced to death.
The 48-year-old Udobong Stephen Adiahaunwa, a father of two and brother to the late Village Head of Idung Ntuk Umah, Chief Stephen Gabriel Adiahaunwa, was condemned by Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo.
The court presided over by Justice Gabriel Ette was delivering a judgement on four counts of conspiracy, armed robbery and terrorism levelled against the convict by the state; a case that started from the High Court, Oruk Anam and later transferred to Uyo Judicial Division.
The particulars of the case show that Udobong Stephen Adiahaunwa who was earlier banned from his village because of his atrocities, stormed the community on 29th December 2009 with his gang dressed like SARS Police operatives and whisked away one Friday Jackson Joe in a Hilux vehicle to an unknown location. The victim has yet to be found till date.
Again, on 28th February 2019, Udobong, a primary five dropout was said to have brought cultists in police uniforms to his community and robbed the treasurer of the village, Mr. Ediomo Sunday Udoidio of N970,000 being the proceeds from the sales of the community palm fruits.
As if that was not enough, on 29th April 2021, he again imported cultists in army uniform and robbed the village Palm Estate Treasurer, Mr Ubong William Henry of N850,000 being the money that Idung Ntuk Umah realised from sales of palm fruits.
It is also on record that on 5th June 2020, the convicted armed robber returned to his village with members of his secret cult and forcefully initiated teenagers into the group forcing many to flee from the village while others continue to live in fear.
Udobong was arrested and detained at Akwa Ibom State Police Command’s Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia but was released, prompting the community to petition the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 6 Headquarters, Calabar.
In June 2020, the convict was arrested by the operatives of the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department, Zone 6 Headquarters, but was granted bail and he disappeared with his surety.
While in his hideouts, he sued the complainant and the police for breaching his fundamental rights and was rearrested on 4th December 2020 and charged in court.
In a one-hour judgement, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Ette found Udobong Stephen Adiahaunwa guilty of conspiring with his gang members now at large and robbing his victims and sentenced him to death by hanging.
“From the totality of my findings, I discover as a fact that the prosecution has proved counts 1, 2 and 3 against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt. I find the defendant guilty and convict him accordingly.
“COUNT 1: the sentence of this court upon you, Udobong Stephen Adiahaunwa in Count 1 of the charge is seven years imprisonment.
“COUNT 2: The sentence of this court upon you is that you be hanged upon your neck until you be dead and may the Lord have mercy upon your soul.
“COUNT 3: The sentence of this court upon you is that you be hanged upon your neck until you be dead, and may the lord have mercy upon your soul,” Justice Gabriel Ette held.
The judgement day attracted the complainants and other indigenes of Idung Ntuk Umah who filled the Courtroom to the brim, forcing the authorities to lock the entrance to the court premises which is a stone’s throw from the Government House.
The Idung Ntuk Umah community celebrated the condemnation of a man they described as “a terror and a nightmare to his community” and applauded Justice Gabriel Ette for his erudite judgement in restoring the confidence of the people in the judiciary.