Court condemns abuse of traditional power
By Emmanuel Ntekim
The Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced a factional village head of Ikot Ebita in Nsit Atai Local Government Area, Chief Effiong Okon Ukeme, his secretary, Sylvanus Edet Effiong, and his Chief Security Officer, Ubong Udo Okpon, to death by hanging for the murder of 28-year-old Archibong Edem Bassey.
Justice Ette, in a strongly worded judgment, held that the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that the trio conspired and intentionally killed the deceased over a dispute concerning palm fruit harvesting rights in the village.
The crisis began following the death of the substantive village head, Chief John Nyong Ekanem, which triggered a leadership tussle between two aspirants — Chief Aniedi Etim Ikpe and Chief Ukime Okon Effiong.
The struggle polarized Ikot Ebita into rival factions and degenerated into a contest over control of economic resources, particularly palm fruit plantations.
Evidence before the court showed that the faction associated with the convicts assumed control of village administration and imposed regulations on palm fruit harvesting.
Security guards from a neighbouring community were engaged and placed under the supervision of the third convict.
In August 2021, the deceased harvested palm fruits from his personal plantation but was arrested by security operatives and taken before the first convict.
He was assaulted, fined N1,000 and warned never to return to the plantation.
The deceased’s elder brother testified that the defendants warned that if he entered the plantation again, he would be killed. The court noted that this evidence was not challenged during cross-examination and was therefore deemed admitted.
On September 10, 2021, the deceased left home around 8 a.m. for his plantation after informing a witness of his intention to protect his palm trees.
He never returned.
The following day, his lifeless body was found in the plantation with fractures and visible signs of violence. A ladder was placed against a palm tree, while his machete was missing.
The court held that the prior threats, the defendants’ control of the plantation, and the circumstances of death established both conspiracy and intent.
In sentencing the convicts, Justice Ette condemned what he described as the misuse of traditional authority.
“When men decide to play god at the slightest opportunity that power falls into their laps, they should exercise such power within the tenets of mercy and righteousness,” he said, warning that “power, the famous banana peel, has a canny way” of exposing inordinate ambition.
Declaring that it was “most unjust and highly condemnable to take the life of another in his own property,” the judge concluded: “Having come to the conclusion that you violated the laws of nature and of this great country, I hereby sentence the three of you to death by hanging.”
