The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the death sentence handed a man, Asuquo Okon Asuquo, for killing his neighbour, Andong Bassey Andong, over a boundary dispute in their compound.|
Asuquo was arraigned before the Cross River State High Court in Calabar for killing Andong on August 21, 2006.
The court heard that Andong died from injuries inflicted on him by the convict who was armed with a machete during the disagreement between the duo.
Asuquo, who the prosecutor said tried to escape, denied the offence, claiming he was not at the crime scene.
The High Court, however, found him guilty of murder and sentenced him to death by hanging.
Unsatisfied, the convict approached the Court of Appeal, which upheld the death sentence, following which Asuquo appealed to the apex court.
The Supreme Court, in a judgment read by Justice Kumai Bayang Akaahs, also dismissed the appellant’s arguments on grounds that there were inconsistencies and contradictions in the evidence against him.
The court ruled that, “There is nothing in this appeal that was not adequately addressed in the court below. The appeal lacks any redeeming features for it to succeed.
“This is a murder that was dastardly executed by the appellant against the deceased who did not bargain for what befell him.
“The appellant was rightly convicted of the murder of Andong Bassey Andong and appropriately sentenced to death. I find no merit in the appeal and it is hereby dismissed.
“The conviction and sentence of the appellant by the High Court of Cross River State, Calabar which was affirmed by the Court of Appeal in Calabar is further affirmed by this court. Appeal is dismissed.”
