Akwa Ibom High Court sitting in Eket, has sentenced a 27-Year-old man, Edinyanga Samuel Akpan, to death by hanging for the murder of his uncle, Kufre Godwin Eno.

The judgement by the court follows an allegation of witchcraft leveled against the deceased in 2017.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Pius Idiong found the defendant guilty of a one-count charge of murder, ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The tragic incident occurred on December 4, 2017, at Ikot Inyang, Okon, in Eket Local Government Area, where the convict, during a heated disagreement, stabbed his uncle in the chest with a knife.

The victim was rushed to Emmanuel General Hospital in Eket but was later confirmed dead by medical personnel.

Akpan, a native of Ikot Obioro in Eket and a primary school dropout, had initially pleaded not guilty throughout the trial.

However, on judgment day, he appealed to the court for leniency, expressing remorse over his actions.

But the Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Idiong in his ruling held that the killing was both intentional and unlawful, stressing that, the law leaves no room for discretion in cases of murder, which remains a capital offence.

“My hands are tied,” the judge declared, as he pronounced the mandatory sentence of death by hanging, while also praying for God to have mercy on the convict’s soul.

The judgment brings to an end a protracted nine-year legal battle as the case, prosecuted by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice, featured U. F. Effiong, Esq., Assistant Chief State Counsel, for the prosecution, while Victor Udeh, Esq., led the defence team.

The matter underwent multiple judicial processes, having been previously handled by Justices Nsemeke Daniel and Ezekiel Enang before commencing afresh (de novo) under Justice Idiong, culminating in the final verdict on Wednesday April 22, 2026.