Monday December 15, 2025
www.thenewsdesk.ng
An Akwa Ibom State High Court in Uyo has handed down the death penalty to four men for the abduction of 62-year-old retired ExxonMobil staff, Idongesit Demas Udom, following the payment of a ₦5 million ransom.
The convicts—Chinatu Iwe Abraham, 38, from Isiala Ngwa, Abia State; William ThankGod Sunday, 30; Ubon Monday Ebebe, 30; and Saturday Jonah Udo, 43, all from Idung Nneke in Ukanafun Local Government Area—were found guilty on three counts: conspiracy, kidnapping, and wounding with intent to maim, disfigure, or disable.
Justice Gabriel Ette delivered the judgment after a detailed four-hour reading, stating that the prosecution had established its case beyond a reasonable doubt. 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, the prosecution called five witnesses, including the victim himself, while all seven defendants testified in their defense.
Udom recounted that the events leading to his abduction began on December 20, 2016, after a disagreement with the second convict, William ThankGod Sunday, who attempted to organize a second “cultist carnival” in the village. Local elders opposed the event, citing activities like drinking, smoking, and eating competitions that could corrupt the youth.
A meeting at Udom’s residence, where he served as administrator of the Royal Family and President of the Idung Nneke Development Association, resolved that the carnival should not proceed. The matter was reported to the Divisional Police Officer in Ukanafun, who deployed officers to halt the event. Udom explained that this angered Sunday, who later blamed him for losing a village youth leadership election and sent threat messages to the village head. Despite previous assistance from Udom, who had helped secure Sunday’s release from detention in Abia State, the convict allegedly plotted revenge.
Evidence presented in court showed that on March 16, 2017, Sunday gathered accomplices and hired kidnappers from Abia State after local criminals refused to target Udom due to his standing in the community. The victim was kidnapped and the ransom of ₦5 million was collected.
Justice Ette sentenced each convict to seven years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, death by hanging for kidnapping, and three years’ imprisonment for wounding with intent to maim. While delivering the death sentence, he said, “May the Lord have mercy on your souls.” The convicts pleaded for leniency, but the court upheld the sentences.
Security was tight at the court throughout the proceedings. Udom, now in his 70s, attended the judgment and appeared visibly relieved that justice had been served.
