Farmer sentenced to death for robbery

BY Austin Ogwuda

…As kidnappers of Senator Okowa’s dad know fate today
Asaba—A 34-year-old  farmer at Kwale town, in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State, Emeka Ogwu, has been sentenced to death by an Effurun High Court for armed robbery.

One of the prosecution witnesses, Dorothy Asekpokai, a business woman, had told the court that the convict attempted to rob her on June 12, 2007, when she visited her new building site around Osubi.

She also identified the convict as the one who attempted to rob her with a gun but she narrowly escaped after driving away at top speed.

She said that in the process of escaping, she knocked down the convict, after which she raised alarm that eventually led to his arrest.

The court, presided over by Justice Godwin Gbemre, stated that prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Ogwu was arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, attempt to commit armed robbery and illegal possession of firearms, contrary to Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Meanwhile, suspected kidnappers of father of former Delta State Secretary to Government, SSG, Chief Arthur Okowa, now a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will know their fate today as judgment is expected to be delivered.

Six persons are facing a five-count charge in connection with the alleged kidnap.

According to prosecution, the accused persons, on or about July 20, 2008, at Boji-Boji Owa, within Owa-Oyibu judicial division, while in the company of others now at large, also robbed one Chief Arthur Okowa (male) of N7,000 cash while armed with a gun.