Soldier sentenced to death by hanging in Abuja

Lance Corporal Oge Etudo has been sentenced to death by an Abuja High Court which found him guilty of rape and culpable homicide committed on March 27, 2014.

According to Vanguard news, the 30 year old convicted soldier was said to have abducted, stabbed and raped a married woman identified as Binta Usman Kadede to death inside the bush at Dei-Dei

suburb of the FCT.

Etudo was formerly attached to a battalion of the Nigerian Army at Lungi Barracks in Abuja before being found guilty of breaching sections 220 and 221 of the Penal Code law.

The charges against him read: “That you L/Cpl Oge Etudo “M” 27 years of Nigerian Army, Lungi Barracks Abuja on or about March 27, 2014, at about 1600hrs at Dei-Dei, near Conoil filling station, Abuja within the Abuja judicial division did committed culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of one Binta Usman Kadede “f” of Dei-Dei village Abuja by stabbing her on the neck and body with knife which resulted to her death when you know that death will be the probable consequences of your act. You thereby committed an offence contrary to section 220 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 221 of the Penal Code.

“That you L/Cpl Oge Etudo “M” 27 years of Nigerian Army, Lungi Barracks Abuja on or about March 27, 2014, at about 1600hrs at Dei-Dei, near Conoil filling station, Abuja within the Abuja judicial division did rape one Binta Usman Kadade “f” of Dei-Dei village by forcefully having sexual intercourse with her against her wish and thereafter stabbed her neck and body with knife to death you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 282 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 283 of the Penal Code”.

He pleaded not guilty and equally entered a no-case-submission after the prosecution closed its case after it called four witnesses and tendered 21 exhibits. After the dismissal of his no-case-submission, the accused soldier decided to present himself as a testifier, insisting that he was innocent of the charge.

He claimed that he went to see a friend called Igwe around that area to chat his wedding plans with him.

He said “I was a guard commander in my Commander Tango’s house. I took a break by 10 am after submitting my arms and ammunition to my junior, I left to Dei-Dei to see my friend called Igwe at Dei-Dei to discuss about my planned white wedding.

“I stopped at Dei-Dei to urinate, in the process I was attacked by some hoodlums who inflicted injuries in me. I ran to the Conoil filling station.”

“On reaching the Conoil, I shouted thief! thief! and fainted due to loss of blood.

“I did not know what happened after regaining consciousness, I found myself in the hospital naked.”

However, Usman Ishaq, a security guard at a block industry in Dei- Dei, one of the prosecution witnesses, told the court that he saw the defendant forced the victim into the bush.

“He was a passenger on a motorbike,(okada) when he came towards the deceased side, he told the Okada rider to stop. He dropped from the motorcycle and asked him to go. And he forced the deceased – a milk seller, into the bush.

“When I got to the point where they entered the bush, I met the accused person on top of the deceased with knife. He was stabbing her on the neck and on the abdomen”.

After the Husband of the deceased finished testifying, Mr. Simon Lough who is the prosecution counsel, further presented a medical report signed by a chief consultant pathologist, Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital, Abuja, Dr. A.U. Mukthar.

After evaluation of the evidence and exhibits placed before the trial Justice, person in A.S. Adepoju, she held that the prosecution successfully proved its case against the accused person.

“I will not also show mercy to him”, the Judge who was almost moved to tears declared.

“The accused person is hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the offence of culpable homicide under section 221 of the Panel Code

“He is to pay the supreme price for his callousness and his ungodliness.

“He has shown no mercy by slaying the victim, I have no mercy for him as well."

On the charge of rape, the accused is sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour. The terms are to run concurrently.” Justice Adepoju held.