An FCT high court has sentenced one Obinna Echanu to death by hanging for killing an Uber driver.
Obinna was standing trial alongside one Everly Nnerun for allegedly conspiring to kill the Uber driver identified as Edwin Ali on December 26th, 2016 along the Abuja Airport Road.
The accused were charged with five counts which include armed robbery, conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms and culpable homicide.
Delivering his judgment on February 6, 2020, Justice Peter Kekemeke convicted Echanu, 42, and sentenced him to death by hanging as his counsel failed to prove his innocence before the court.
But the judge discharged and acquitted Echanu’s co-accused, Everly Nnorom, 27, for lack of evidence linking him to the alleged crimes.
The judge held that the first count of conspiracy failed as it was not proved beyond reasonable doubt that Nnorom conspired with Echanu to commit the crime.
“The first defendant is therefore sentenced to death by hanging on each of the counts,” Justice Kekemeke declared.
The judge also ordered that Sienna car and the magnum revolver gun recovered from the convict be forfeited to the federal government.
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He ordered that the deceased person’s phone recovered from the convict should be returned to his family.
The judge also directed that allegation of withdrawal of money from the convict’s account while in police custody should be investigated within one month, adding that those suspected to be culpable should be prosecuted in court.
The prosecution alleged that the two men allegedly armed with a revolver pistol and 33 live ammunitions shot and killed Ali.
The police further accused Echanu of being in possession of a magnum revolver pistol on March 21, 2017 in violation of Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act.
Both Echianu and Nnorom had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
