Imo Court Sentences Man To Death For Robbery, Kidnapping

The Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri, has sentenced a 34-year-old man, Johnbosco Chidera Ashiegbu to death by hanging after finding him guilty of armed robbery and kidnapping across the state.

Ashiegbu, a native of Amaiyi Akabo in Ikeduru loca government area of the state, was said to have been apprehended in 2024 along Okigwe road, Owerri, with a stolen vehicle and after interrogation, confessed to having been in the business of armed robbery and kidnapping, operating within Imo and Abia States respectively.

In his ruling, the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice C.N Akowundu stressed that the defendant, Ashiegbu, was guilty of all the eight count charges as the prosecuting counsel proved beyond reasonable doubt all the charges leveled against the accused.

“Ashiegbu and his gang were said to have trailed one Mr. Rex Edwin Achiefula to his house at Aba while driving along with his wife and whisked the couple away, robbing them of their car and the sum of US2800 dollars.

“While the wife was freed along the road, the husband was blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination where he was held hostage for close to six days.

“The defendant and his gang members that same day, about same time, before the abduction of Achiefula had already abducted one Emmanuel Okezie who was also driving along the same route.”

Their victims were later released after the payment of a ransom of 3.7million naira and 15 million naira, respectively.

Justice Akobundu, in his judgement, highlighted that Ashiegbu drives in fleet of cars and routinely changes ownership of all vehicles he stole to his name, including the ones he gave his elder brother and sister during her birthday celebration.

However, the defence counsel pleaded for leniency that the accused had not been convicted of any offence in the past and is the breadwinner of the family, married with children who depend on him for sustainance.

Throwing out the plea , the Judge said that the defendant did not show any sign of remorse throughout the trial.

The prosecuting counsel, Ikenna Obi, a Counsel in Ministry of Justice, urged the court to give its pronouncement in line with the instant law of the land.

He noted that the defendant had not shown any repentance even as he had been found guilty of all the charges before the Court.

The Judge, in his judgement, stressed that the accused was guilty of all charges brought against him and therefore sentenced to death by hanging.