A High court 1, sitting in Idah, which was presided by Justice Ajayi on Tuesday, sentenced one, Ocholi Edicha to twelve and half years imprisonment for burning Salome Abuh alive.
The late Mrs Abuh was a woman leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ofu Local Government Council in Kogi East Senatorial District.
Kogi State government represented by its lawyers from the Ministry of Justice and the Solicitor General’s office have vowed to challenge the ruling.
They described the ruling as surprising, saying the punishment doesn’t commensurate with the offence committed.
Barr. Otigbe Joseph said the judgment was a surprise, saying it would be challenged as the sentence cannot be equated to the offences committed which bothered on killing.
“The offence is a capital offence that deserves capital punishment”, he said.
The defendant was arraigned on the offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, mischief by fire and culpable homicide.
Delivering his judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Ajayi convicted the suspect for culpable homicide not punishable with death.
During the trial, the prosecution had called five witnesses while the court agreed with oral testimony and eyewitness account alongside statement made to the Nigeria Police and held it to be sufficient to secure the conviction of the defendant.
The defendant denied making a statement to the Nigeria Police, but was quick to challenge and accept some aspect of the statement.
It would be recalled that the deceased, Mrs. Abuh was shot and set ablaze at her resident in Ochadamu in Ofu Local Government Area, Kogi State on November 18, 2019.
The court convicted and sentenced the defendant to 12 years and 6 months imprisonment.
No member of the late Salome’s family could speak to CAPITAL POST on his or her views concerning the judgement as at press time.
