The Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo has sentenced four men to death by hanging for the kidnapping and brutal maiming of Elder Idongesit Demas Udom, a retired ExxonMobil manager from Idung Nneke in Ukanafun Local Government Area. The convicts: Chinatu Iwe Abraham, 38, from Isiala Ngwa in Abia State; and three natives of Idung Nneke, William ThankGod Sunday, 30; Ubon Monday Ebebe, 30; and Saturday Jonah Udo, 43, were found guilty on three counts of conspiracy, kidnapping, and wounding with intent to maim, disfigure, or disable.
Justice Gabriel Ette delivered the four-hour judgment on Thursday, holding that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. According to the court, the men abducted Elder Udom and amputated his hand after collecting a ₦5 million ransom.
Three other defendants: Kingsley John Akpan, 32; Etimefiok Ime Ezekiel, 37; and Joseph Sunday Etim, 31, were discharged and acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking them to the crime.
During the trial, five prosecution witnesses, including the victim, testified. Elder Udom recounted how the conflict began on 20 December 2016 when the second convict, William ThankGod Sunday, attempted to organise a “cultist carnival” in the village. The billboard advertising the event highlighted activities such as smoking, drinking, and eating competitions, prompting the village elders to intervene.
A meeting was held at Udom’s residence, where he served as Administrator of the Royal Family and President of the Idung Nneke Development Association, and it was unanimously resolved that the carnival should not hold due to its negative influence on the youth. A similar event in 2015 had reportedly led to the initiation of several minors into cult groups.
Following the elders’ intervention and police involvement to stop the carnival, Sunday allegedly blamed Udom for his defeat in a subsequent youth leadership election. He reportedly sent threats to Udom’s family, including a letter warning that he would kill three students of Udom’s Sure Polytechnic, Ikot Akai, if he felt “betrayed” again.
Despite the threats, Udom said he did not take them seriously, noting that he had previously helped secure Sunday’s release from detention in Abia State over suspected robbery.
On 16 March 2017, Sunday allegedly convened a meeting with his associates, including Ubon Monday Ebebe, Etimefiok Ime Ezekiel, and a fugitive suspect, Saviour Paul Matthew, where he arranged for kidnappers from Abia State to abduct Udom. Testimony revealed that local kidnappers had refused the job due to Udom’s respected standing and contributions to community development.
The abduction eventually occurred, culminating in the kidnappers amputating the victim’s hand after collecting a ₦5 million ransom.
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In his judgment, Justice Ette declared: “From the totality of the evidence adduced before me, I hold that the following defendants: Chinatu Iwe Abraham; William ThankGod Sunday; Ubon Monday Ebebe; and Saturday Jonah Udo, are guilty as charged.”
The sentences handed down were:
Count 1 (Conspiracy): Seven years imprisonment each
Count 2 (Kidnapping): Death by hanging, with the judge pronouncing, “May the Lord have mercy on your souls.”
Count 3 (Wounding with Intent to Maim): Three years imprisonment each
Reacting, the victim’s Ndiana-Abasi Udom, expressed gratitude, saying
“To the glory of God, we did not have to dedicate the judgment to our father who is no more but witnessed him listen and also witness how the perpetrators, remnants, and those who monitored the environment for the criminals who kidnapped him get the death-by-hanging sentence today, live and direct. We dedicate this judgment to God Almighty and do pray for the end of kidnapping in Nigeria. Amen.”
