A Delta State High Court has convicted and sentenced a man to 16 years imprisonment over a conspiracy to commit arson, among other charges.
The court, sitting at Kwale and presided over by Justice O.F. Enenmo, gave judgement and said the sentences are to run concurrently for 10 and six years.
Two other defendants charged alongside the convict were discharged and acquitted on both counts.
The three defendants, namely Efajemue Israel, Aziakpono Prince Eseoghene and Omote Efe, were arraigned before the court on a seven-count charge for the offences of conspiracy to commit felony, to wit arson, arson and malicious damage punishable under sections 516, 443, and 451 of the Criminal Code Laws, C21, Volume 1, and Laws of Delta State of Nigeria 2006, respectively.
The prosecution, led by a director in the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Patrick Okoh, fielded six witnesses and tendered 10 exhibits.
The defendants were alleged to have conspired with others now at large to commit the said offences on April 15, 2023, at Ibrede in Ndokwa East Local Government Area of Delta State within the Kwale Judicial Division.
The prosecution alleged that the defendants willfully and unlawfully burned down buildings and damaged household properties, including vehicles worth millions of naira belonging to HRH Aruhor Mowe Gregory (PW4), Itive Ovie John ( PW3), Akpokieren Blessing (PW2) and Victor Akokomebe (PW1).
The defendants gave evidence in their defence and denied the allegations.
The court, in its judgement, held that the prosecution proved the ingredients of the offences of conspiracy to commit felony to wit arson and arson against the first defendant beyond reasonable doubt. He was accordingly convicted and sentenced to six and 10 years imprisonment, respectively, with hard labour on counts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The defendant was, however, discharged on counts 6 and 7 for the offence of malicious damage, while the second and third defendants were discharged and acquitted on all the counts for which they were charged.
Delta court sentences man to 16-year jail term for arson
