Ini Billie, Uyo
A 34-year-old man, Kingsley Etim Eyo, has been jailed for 10 years for kidnapping his six-year-old cousin.
Eyo, an indigene of Ikot Otoinyie in Uruan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State was found guilty of kidnapping and selling his victim who has yet to be found.
It was learnt that the convict and one other, kidnapped his cousin, six-year-old Goodnews Kufre Essien on July 19, 2018, when his mother sent him to buy garri in Ikot Otoinyie, Uruan.
Eyo however pleaded not guilty to the charge, leading to a full trial with the prosecution team from the State Ministry of Justice, led by an Assistant Director of Prosecutions, Barr. Comfort Udo, who called three witnesses.
According to the prosecution, four exhibits, including Police Investigation Report dated September 20, 2018, tendered in court revealed that in his confessional statement, the convict admitted that his percentage from the human trade and child selling was N80,000.
“The money that we sold Goodnews is with Joshua. My percentage in that money is N80,000. Yes myself, Denis Joshua went to a native doctor, Cletus from Ikot Akpa Ekong village in Uruan Local Government Area to do charm in order to hide it from people,” the convict said.
In his ruling, Justice Okon Okon, of Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Okoita, Ibiono Ibom local government area, cited Section 28 (1) and (2) of Child Rights Law of Akwa Ibom State 2008.
“No person shall remove or take a child out of the custody or protection of his father, mother, guardian or such other person having lawful care or charge of the child against the will of the father, mother, guardian or other person.
“Such a person who contravenes the provisions of this section commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of 10 years.
“I have thoroughly and meticulously read and reflected on the entirety of the extrajudicial statements of the defendant and have appraised, scrutinised and evaluated same with the evidence of prosecution witnesses and I can infer that the defendant worked in close collaboration with his friends and cohorts in taking away Goodnews Kufre Essien from the custody of his mother, the PW1.
“I have also taken into consideration the relationship of the defendant with PW1 (his aunt) and the child victim in this case. The defendant betrayed and compromised his close relationship with PW1 and her abducted child who according to the defendant calls him “Uncle”.
“The prosecution has beyond reasonable doubt, proved the guilt of the defendant for child abduction as charged and I therefore find the defendant guilty. The defendant, Kingsley Etim Eyo is sentenced to 10 years imprisonment,” the court stated.