A FEDERAL Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja has sentenced a 22-year-old man, Emmanuel Kalu, to death for allegedly stealing a phone and stabbing his victim to death.
Kalu was convicted on two-counts bordering on armed robbery.
Justice Peter Kekemeke sentenced Kalu to death after the prosecution had established their case against him.
The offence, the prosecution said, is contrary to section 221 of the Penal Code, and punishable with death under Section 1 (1)(2)(a) and (b) of the Firearms Act and Culpable Homicide.
In the certified true copy (CTC) of the judgment dated March 3, 2025, the judge held that the prosecution proved their case beyond reasonable doubt.
Delivering the judgment, Kekemeke held that the prosecution called three witnesses to prove their case.
“The first prosecution witness is Emmanuel Anujuem, a 30-year-old phone software engineer who knew the defendant (Kalu).
“He said on March 20, 2023, his elder brother, Uchenna Anujuem left the house with his younger brother Michael to deliver a 13 Promax (iPhone), which was ordered through an online media, to the defendant.
“About five hours later, his younger brother called to inform him that his elder brother got stabbed on the stomach where he went to deliver the phone.
“The confessional statements of the defendant are direct, positive and properly established.
“The confessional statements aforesaid are freely and voluntarily made.
“It is a direct and positive assertion of the guilt of the defendant.
“The weapon used – knife – is in evidence. In my humble view, the prosecution has successfully proved the two-count charge against the defendant and I so hold.
“The defendant is found guilty in counts one and two as charged and he is accordingly convicted
“The defendant is hereby sentenced to death in both count one and two respectively,” the judge held.
In the charge with number FCT/HC/CR/015/2023 dated Oct. 30, 2023, the prosecutor told the court that the defendant who resides in Kubwa, robbed Vincent Anujuem (now late) of iPhone 13 valued N680, 000.
He said that the price was negotiated earlier but upon delivery the defendant stabbed the victim at his (defendant) hotel room, contrary to the law. (NAN)
