JUST IN : A/Court affirms death sentence on ex-NNPC staff for killing daughter’s boyfriend

The Court of Appeal siting in Calabar  on Thursday affirmed a High Court jugement that sentenced a former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)  staff, Godwin Elewana to death by hanging for murder.

Mr Elwana in  suit  No. CA/C/278C/2018 had  appealed against  the ruling of Calabar High Court which sentenced him to death for allegedly shooting twenty two  year old student, Douglas Ojugbo said to be the boyfriend of his daughter  to death in March 2015.

Reading the ruling of the Appeal Court  onbehalf of three other judges,  Justice Y. Nimpar said the court having gone through all the evidences and addresses by the counsels to both parties  finds the judgement of the lower court credible and therefore valid before the law.

The presiding judge of High Court Nine ,  Calabar, Justice Ebitam in his ruling that found the man guilty in 2018 said the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

He listed the several confessional statements, hospital reports and exhibits presented in the course of trial as reasons the accused was convicted.

“The prosecution team also proved their second ingredient of the murder which was the intentional act. To have fired the victim twice with his pump action gun, I agree that the killing was intentional and I hereby find accused person guilty of murder.

"Subject to section 319 of the Criminal Code of Cross River State, any person who commits murder is sentenced to death by hanging”, the Judge declared.