An Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, the state capital, has sentenced four accused person, including a council boss, to seven years imprisonment each.
The accused were tried for alleged involvement in the murder of the state’s former Deputy Speaker, Okon Uwah.
Four accused persons are Effiom Abai, Simeon Daniel Udoikpe, Godwin Moses Udo (Utip Udosip) and Akaninyene Benson Brown (Ekomobong Benson Udong).
They were found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder under section 331 of the criminal code volume II laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000.
Uwah was candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) for Ukanafun State Constituency.
He was killed on March 18, 2015 at a village called Nkek in Ukanafun Local Government Area while embarking on house-to-house campaign along with other APC faithful.
Delivering judgment Thursday, Justice Okon Okon, found the first accused person Effiom Abai, guilty of conspiring with others to commit the invasion of the meeting venue that led to the death of Uwah.
He however discharged and acquitted the four accused persons of murder for lack of substantial evidence to prove the prosecution beyond reasonable doubt.
Okon also dismissed charge of causing bodily harm to one Uduak Essien who also served as prosecution witness in the case.
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Abai, who is the first accused person, was the Vice Chairman of Ukanafun Local Government Council.
He allegedly masterminded the murder of the Deputy Speaker, having been fingered to have instructed his perceived thugs to kill the former Deputy Speaker.
Reactions have continued to trail the Thursday judgment in Uyo, the state capital.
A legal practitioner, Godwin Udofia, described the judgment as “a victory for the judiciary” pointing out that justice had already been done.
He said, “I think it was good judgment and a victory for the judgment. At least justice has been done and I think we should all applaud the judiciary.”
The chairman of Akwa State Civil Liberties Organisation,(CLO), Clifford Thomas, also hailed the judgment describing it as “sweet victory”.
“The people of Akwa Ibom State expect no less from that judgment and think the Judge was thorough enough,” he said.
