An Asaba High Court on Wednesday sentenced two kidnappers to 113 years imprisonment with hard labour, having been found guilty of kidnapping and armed robbery. The convicts are David Erutere and Sunday Omamuzo Ukailkwo.

They were sentenced after they were found guilty of the five-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony with armed robbery contrary to section 6 (b) and punishable under section 1 (2) a of the robbery and firearms (Special Provisions) Act Cap R II Volume 14 Laws of the Federation, 2004.

They were also found guilty of the charges of armed robbery and demanding property with menaces.

The prosecutor told the court that David and Sunday conspired, kidnapped and robbed Irikefe Edafe and Egwu Johnbull and stripped them of their valuables including a Pathfinder Jeep, GSM Phones, Laptop, wedding rings and cash and thereafter demanded a ransom of N50 million from their kinsmen.

Irikefe Edafe and Egwu Johnbull were abducted in June 2011 at Delta Palace Road, Warri and Ubiaruku respectively.

The court in its judgement sentenced the first accused person (David, aged 31), a native of Ekrakra Village in Ethiope East Local Government of Delta state to 45 years in jail for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery, while he got another seven years imprisonment, alongside with Sunday, for conspiracy to commit kidnapping, three years imprisonment each for demanding property with menace and another 10 years each for the offence of kidnapping.

The second accused person (Sunday) who claimed to be a farmer and a native of Olomoro in Isoko South Local Government area, bagged 25 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery.

David was arrested by men of the State Security Service (SSS) when he fell into the trap set for him at the point of collecting the N50 million ransom and he later took the security agents to the house of Sunday where he too was arrested and later charged to court.

Meanwhile, another High Court in the state at Orerokpe, headquarters of Okpe Local Government yesterday sentenced a 27 years old University worker, one David Wonder Erhirhie to death for committing murder.

David Wonder was sentenced for killing Princess Chinoso Ijezie, an admission seeker in 2009 at Abraka.

The court said the offence was punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code Law Cap C. 21 Laws of Delta State 2006.

Delivering judgement, the court said prosecution was able to proved beyond all reasonable doubt the offence of murder and sentenced him in accordance to the law. “The punishment for a crime of this magnitude is death penalty. This accuse person does not deserve less. I hereby sentence you to death by hanging at the neck until you be dead. May God have mercy upon your soul.”

The Prosecutor who buttressed his case, which lasted for over two years, with six witnesses,and faulted the accused person who testified for himself.

Prior to his conviction, he was a clerical staff of the Provost Office, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka.

He was involved in admission racketeering and swindled his victim of N155,000 in a bid to secure admission for her into a private University somewhere in Edo State but in desperation to cover up the crime lured the princess to his house, killed and secretly buried her in a shallow grave close to his house before nemesis caught up with him.