AN Umuahia, Abia State Chief Magistrate’s Court presided over by Mr. John Ukairo on Friday sentenced a 25-year-old pregnant woman, Ijeoma Amarachi and 22-year-old Mr. Kalechi Okorie to seven years imprisonment with hard labour after finding them guilty of conspiracy and stealing of N14.85 million belonging to Bawas Oil Ltd. between January 1 and August 31, 2008.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

The same court, same day also, found the same Ijeoma Amarachi and one Mr. Johnson Ndubuisi, who also worked for Bawas Oil Ltd. guilty on the two-count charges of conspiracy and attempted murder of another worker, Mr. Onwuchekwa Anyalewechi, by pouring acid on him on or about  August 31, 2008 at Umuabali Umuokopara in Umuahia South Local Council of Abia State.

T hey were sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour on each count though they are to run concurrently.

Although he agreed with the pleas of leniency by the defense counsel, Mr. Okechukwu Uche, “that the accused are first offenders while Ijeoma is an expectant mother,” Ukairo described murder as a serious crime, hence it was imperative that those who attempt such should be kept away from the public for a while.

In his reaction, the Chairman and Managing Director of Bawas Oil Ltd., Chief Uche Akwukwuegbu lauded the judgment but remarked that it took too long.

“ We have proved our case. We lost millions from the criminal acts of these people and have spent lots of money treating the acid victim.  But we thank God he did not die as a result although he is badly disfigured and undergone series of surgeries.”

-Guardian

Posted by admin on Jul 9 2012. Filed under Abia, Headlines, State News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry