By Deborah Nnamdi
A 29-year-old man, Akaninyene Thomas Okpon, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo for murdering his elder brother, Friday Thomas Enyenokpon. The convict had accused his brother of being a witch responsible for his misfortunes.
The gruesome incident occurred in 2018 at Ikot Abasi Asutan in the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. It involved Akaninyene, a father of three, and his late sibling, 37-year-old Ime Thomas Okpon, who was also charged in the case but died in custody before the trial concluded.
According to court findings, the two brothers ambushed and beheaded Friday while he was out checking his hunting traps. They buried his head separately, a horrifying act that left the community in deep shock.
Delivering judgment in Suit No. HU/5C/2019 on Thursday, Justice Okon Okon ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, citing the defendant’s confession and other corroborating evidence.
The court noted that the defendant, who dropped out of school in Primary Three, had previously threatened to kill the deceased and other family members. He later led police to the scene where his brother’s remains were recovered.
In his ruling, Justice Okon stated:
“The sentence of the Court upon you, Akaninyene Thomas Okpon, is that you be hanged by the neck until you are dead.”
Additionally, the court ordered that the murder weapons—two machetes presented as Exhibits 1 and 1A—be forfeited to the state.
