CRIME 2 men face death sentence over Xmas day murder

The FCT Commissioner of Police has arraigned before an FCT High Court two suspects who allegedly killed a man and snatched his car on Christmas Day of 2016 in Abuja.

Police prosecutor Barrister Donatus Abah told the court in the 5-count charge that Obinna Echiannu, 42, from Abia State and Nnorom Everly, 27, from Imo on December 25, 2016 conspired to commit the offence of armed robbery and culpable homicide, punishable with death.

He said the duo, while armed with a Revolver Pistol and 33 live ammunitions (bullets), robbed one Inalegwu Edwin Ali of his Nissan Almera car and one mobile phone at Gosa pedestrian bridge, Airport road, Abuja.

He said after both of them successfully robbed Ali, Echianu intentionally shot him in the head causing his death.

Echianu was also charged with the offence of unlawful possession of firearms and live ammunitions with which he shot the deceased. The charge said the firearms and ammunitions were later recovered from his residence in Abia State on March 21, 2017.

Abah said their offences are punishable under sections 1(2), 6(b) & 27 (1) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act and Section 221 of the Penal Code Law.

The police said the suspects confessed to have committed the offence in their confessional statements. However, when the charge was read to them yesterday, they pleaded not guilty.

Thereafter, the trial judge, Justice Peter Kekemeke, overruled the oral application for bail made on behalf of the defendants and ordered that a formal application be made before the court.

He ordered that they be remanded in Kuje prisons till November 14 when the matter would next come up.