Corporal Stephen Iweh, formerly serving with the 6 Battalion in Ibagwa, Abak local government area of Akwa Ibom State, has been condemned to death by hanging following his conviction for murder and armed robbery. The soldier was dismissed from service approximately four years ago due to these offenses.
Presiding over the case at the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo, Justice Bassey Nkanang delivered the verdict after the prosecution established that Iweh fatally shot 42-year-old Christopher Enobong Jimmy. The victim had kindly offered Iweh a lift from Onne in Rivers State to Uyo.
According to gathered reports, while traveling together, the accused-still in military uniform and armed-overpowered Jimmy, shot him dead, and absconded with his vehicle.
The incident took place on May 23, 2021, along the stretch of the East-West Road within Ikot Abasi local government area, as detailed in the case documents.
Christopher Enobong Jimmy, who managed a Clearing and Forwarding Company based in Port Harcourt, had given Corporal Iweh a ride from the Trailer Park in Onne, Rivers State, heading towards Ikot Abasi in Akwa Ibom.
At Oboro Junction in Ikot Abasi, the 39-year-old soldier allegedly shot Jimmy before fleeing with the Toyota Matrix and other valuables.
Investigations uncovered that Iweh had unlawfully retained an AK-47 rifle, which he admitted to having picked up in Dambou, Borno State, in 2018, choosing to keep it as a personal weapon.
On the day of the crime, Iweh was expected to be on duty at the Army Store of the 6 Battalion in Ibagwa, Abak, but instead deserted his post to carry out the offense.
Authorities later located and apprehended him at Andy Guest House in Ukanafun local government area, far from the crime scene, where the rifle was also recovered.
Justice Nkanang affirmed that the prosecution had irrefutably demonstrated that Iweh, originally from Ameke Nkor in Ngor Okpala local government area of Imo State, murdered Jimmy-an indigene of Ikot Abasi-while armed with an unlicensed AK-47 rifle, and stole his vehicle.
The court further noted that the shooting occurred at a stopover in Oboro, Ikot Abasi, where the pair had paused to relieve themselves and eat pork before the fatal attack and subsequent escape with the victim’s belongings.
Convicted on three counts, Iweh was sentenced to death by hanging for murder and armed robbery, alongside a 10-year prison term for illegal possession of firearms.
Despite pleading for leniency and requesting a “soft landing,” the court dismissed his appeal for mercy.
