Two Sentenced To Death For Stealing Handbag, Phone In Anambra

An Anambra High Court sitting in Ihiala and presided over by Justice Okey Onunkwo, has sentenced two men to death for stealing a lady’s handbag, telephone and other personal effects at a gunpoint.

The Judge said there were sufficient evidence to convict the two men, Ikenna Obi and Osadebe Ezeh who, on  February 2nd,  allegedly stole a mobile phone,  a handbag  and N10,000 cash belonging to one   Miss Chinonye Ogujiuba of Eziama Uli.

The Nokia phone was valued at N15, 500, while the handbag was estimated at N2, 500. The third accused, Anene Maduka, charged with the other suspects was however discharged and acquitted for lack of evidence,Vanguard reports.

The identity of Maduka, who was the first defendant in the case, was made an issue in the trial and the court agreed that he was not properly identified even though the victim gave evidence that he was waiting for the others on his commercial motorcycle while the robbery lasted.

 In their submissions, the   defense counsel, Calistus Ohanusi and Enright Okilie, had argued that the burden of proof on criminal matters rested on the prosecution who they said did not prove that their clients robbed, or took part in robbing the victim, maintaining that there was no sufficient evidence to convict them.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Onunkwo, said there was no sufficient evidence against the first defendant (Maduka). “There were eye witness evidence against the convicts   as the victim had raised alarm after the robbery, leading to the arrest of the culprits at Umudimogo Ihiala and handed over to the police”, the Judge said. Justice Onunkwo subsequently sentenced them to death by hanging or firing squad.