Ex-NNPC worker sentenced to death over daughter's boyfriend's murder
- A former NNPC staff was sentenced to death by hanging by a Cross River state high court
- The man was found guilty of killing his daughter's boyfriend
- The judge said the prosecution team proved its case beyond doubt
One Godwin Elewana who is a retired worker of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been sentenced to death by hanging by the Cross River state high court for killing his daughter’s boyfriend.
The Punch reports that the convict was accused of killing one Douglas Ojugbo, a 22-year-old pupil in 2015 on suspicion that he was having an affair with his daughter.
Justice Ukpa Ebitam said he was convinced that the prosecution team led by Eneji Amajama proved its case that Elewana committed the murder.
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He said: “The prosecution team was able to establish ingredients of murder against the accused. On whether it was the act of the accused that caused the death of the victim, the prosecution team placed reliance mostly on the confessional statement of the accused…clearly, the statement linked the murder to the accused.
“The prosecution team also proved the second ingredient of murder which was the intentional act. To have fired the victim twice with his pump-action gun, I agree that the killing was intentional. I hereby find the accused person guilty of murder.
“Subject to Section 319 of the Criminal Code of Cross River State, any person who commits murder is sentenced to death by hanging.”
Prior to the conviction, the counsel to the defence, Clement Ukaegbu, had asked the court for leniency.
The leader of the prosecution team, Amajama, expressed delight over the outcome of the case. He said: “I thank God that we have industrious and sound judges who still uphold the rule of law. Today, the parents of the deceased would have some respite that the law of the land took its course.
“This judgement will serve as a deterrent to others that you cannot do what is wrong and go away with it and I think that our society will be better for it.
“The accused was tried under Section 319 of the Criminal Code of Cross River State. Under this section, the judge does not have the right to give him life imprisonment or any other jail term. The judge has just done what the law stipulates.”
Maria Ojugbo who is the mother of the victim also expressed joy at the verdict. She said: "I thank God for doing what should be done. It is stated in the Bible that anyone who kills by the sword, will die by the sword. Elewana had no reason whatsoever to kill my son in such a manner and conceal the act by burying him. It was Almighty God that gave approval for this judgement."
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Meanwhile, operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos state police command apprehended two robbery suspects who are former inmates allegedly responsible for the murder of an Uber driver.
According to The Punch, the suspects, identified as Simon Tyozemda and Lucky Friday, became friends while in the prison and allegedly formed a two-man robbery gang after their freedom in December 2017 and January 2018 respectively, specialising in stealing of cars from Uber drivers.
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Source: Legit.ng
