Kidnappers of Delta Magistrate to die by hanging

Two persons were yesterday sentenced to
death by hanging, by an Asaba High Court,
having been found guilty of kidnapping and
robbing a female magistrate at gunpoint on
Boxing Day, two years ago.
The duo of Saidu Haruna and Raphael
Egwuba , who were arraigned on a three-
count charge of conspiracy to commit
kidnapping, and armed robbery on charge
no A/37C/2012 claimed to be phone
technicians and welder at Osubi,
respectively.
The court was told by the prosecution that,
the female Magistrate was driving into her
compound in the afternoon of December
26, 2011,when she was kidnapped by the
armed men.
The kidnappers took her to a forest where
she was dispossessed of everything with
her. Her ATM card was also taken away,
and it was gathered that they used the ATM
card to withdraw some undisclosed amount
of money before they were traced and
arrested.
In proving its case, the prosecution
called two witnesses, including the
victim (female magistrate). Some exhibits
were also tendered before the court,
including the magistrate’s Blackberry
phone, which was used to track down the
criminals.
The trial judge (identity withheld) while
passing the sentence yesterday said,: “I
disbelieve the evidence of the first and
second accused persons as their
testimonies were full of contradictions and
meant to cover their tracks.
“From the totality of the evidence before
this court, I hold that the first and second
accused persons were involved in the
kidnapping and robbing of one Onoriode
Yvonne Asheshe of her Honda Pilot SUV,
ATM card, jewelries and BlackBerry phone,
while armed with a gun.
“I hold that prosecution has proved
ingredients of counts one, two and three
against the accused beyond reasonable
doubt.
“For count three (armed robbery), I hereby
sentence the accused persons for
execution by hanging on the neck until they
be dead. May God have mercy on their
souls.”