NIGERIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING UBER DRIVER IN ABUJA
February 7, 2020: The High Court in Nyanya, Abuja, on 6 February 2020 sentenced to death one Obinna Echanu, 42, for killing an Uber driver identified as Edwin Ali. Ali was killed in Abuja on 26 December 2016. Justice Peter Kekemeke, who delivered the judgment, convicted Echanu for armed robbery and culpable homicide. However, Echanu’s co-accused,Everly Nnorom, 27, was acquitted for lack of evidence. The police had instituted five counts of conspiracy, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms and culpable homicide against the two men. The judge held that the first count of conspiracy failed as it was not proved beyond reasonable doubt that Nnorom conspired with Echanu to commit the crime. However, convicting Echanu of the offences, the judge held that the police proved counts of armed robbery and culpable homicide against him beyond reasonable doubt against him. The prosecution had alleged that the two men shot and killed Ali. Echianu and Nnorom had pleaded not guilty to the charges. (Sources: The Nation, 06/02/2020)
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