On Friday, Menim Udoaya was found guilty of murdering his cousin Ben Clement Ben in Use Ikot Amama, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of the state, and was given the death penalty by lethal injection or hanging in Uyo, the state's capital.
In a village council meeting, Menim, 23, and his uncle, Friday Ekereke Udoaya, allegedly got into a small argument that led to Ben's death.
On January 4, 2018, at Use Ikot Amama Junction, it was rumoured that Menim struck the deceased with a piece of wood, and the deceased was attacked with a machete by a different person named Ini Friday Udoaya, who eventually caused his death. Ini was not one of those paraded, however.
According to the ruling of the presiding court, Justice Bassey Nkanang, "the third accused individual, Menim Jolly Udoaya, who is alleged to have used a piece of wood on the victim, is also implicated as a participant in the unholy display of youthful exuberance that cut short the life of the deceased."
Friday Ekereke Udoaya, Kini Udoaya, Menim Udoaya, and Saviour Maurice Udom were the defendants in the case brought by the state government.
On seven counts, including conspiracy to conduct a felony, malicious destruction of property, theft, grievous bodily harm, and conspiracy to murder, the four defendants were on trial.
Menim Jolly Udoaya, his brothers Friday Ekereke Udoaya and Kini Jolly Udoaya, as well as Justice Bassey Nkanang, were each given a two-year jail sentence in count one for conspiracy to commit a felony and a two-year prison sentence in count two for malicious damage to property.
When Menim Udoaya was found guilty of murder, Nkanang ruled that he should be executed by lethal injection or hanging.
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