A State High Court sitting in Owerri, the Imo State Capital, has sentenced a 34-year-old man, Johnbosco Chidera Ashiegbu to death by hanging after finding him guilty of serial armed robbery and kidnapping.

Johnbosco, a native of Amaiyi Akabo in Ikeduru LGA of the State, was said to have been arrested in 2024 along Okigwe road, Owerri, in a stolen vehicles and after interrogation, he confessed to have been in the business of armed robbery and hostage taking, operating within Imo and Abia States with his gang.

Ruling on the matter, the presiding Judge, Hon. Justice C.N Akowundu said the defendant was guilty of all the eight count charges against him as the prosecuting counsel proved beyond reasonable doubt all the charges leveled against the accused person.

He recalled that in 2024, Ashiegbu and his gang who are currently at large, trailed one Mr. Rex Edwin Achiefula to his house at Aba while driving along with his wife and whisked the couple away, robbing them of their car and the sum of US2800 dollars.

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While the wife was freed along the road, the husband was blindfolded and taken to an unknown destination where he was held hostage for close to six days.

Meanwhile, the defendant and his gang members that same day, about same time, before the abduction of Mr Rex had already abducted one Emmanuel Okezie who was also driving along the same route with Mr. Rex.

Their victims were later released after the payment of a ransom of 3.7million naira and 15 million naira, respectively.

Justice Akobundu, in the judgement, further remarked that Ashiegbu drives in fleet of cars and routinely changes ownership of all vehicles he stole to his name, including the ones he gifted his elder brother and sister during her birthday celebration.

READ ALSO:Robbers Raid Imo Catholic Church, Steal Holy Communion Materials

Meanwhile, the defense counsel pleaded for leniency that the accused had not been convicted of any offense in the past and is the breadwinner of his family married with children who depend on him.

Waving out the request from the defendant counsel, the Judge said that the defendant himself did not show any sign of remorse throughout the trial.

The Prosecuting Counsel, Ikenna Obi, a Senior State Counsel in Ministry of Justice, urged the court to give its pronouncement in line with the dictates of the law.

He noted that the defendant had not shown any atom of repentance even as he had been found guilty of all the charges before the Court.

The Judge, in his final judgement, said the accused was guilty of all charges levelled against him and therefore sentenced to death by hanging.

…I never did such things — Husband

A businesswoman, Patricia Philip, has prayed a Customary Court in Garki, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to dissolve the marriage between her and her husband, Ossai Philip, over alleged molestation.

The petitioner said this in a divorce petition she filed against her husband in court.

“My husband is constantly fighting and molesting me without justification. He beats me often and also uses abusive words on me.

“He reacts aggressively to literally every little provocation,” she said.

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According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), The petitioner said that all the ill treatment had caused her emotional distress and that she feared for her safety.

She told the court that she could no longer cope with her husband’s alleged violent behaviour, which she said, had destroyed her trust and confidence in him.

She also told the court that she feared that continued cohabitation with the respondent may endanger her life and well being.

The respondent, Philip, who is a businessman, denied the allegations.

The presiding judge, Festus Enomhonse, however, adjourned the case.

…He has a girlfriend he has built house for —Wife

“I do not understand why she agreed to be ordained as a pastor and pretends to people while our marriage is falling apart,” a Ndola man has cried before the Kabushi Local Court in Ndola, Zambia.

Bright Sinkala took his wife, Pastor Grace Musende to court, seeking divorce, stating that she has neglected their marriage, but instead frequents mountain visits for prayer.

However, in her defense, Pastor Musende told the court that it was Bright who caused their marriage to fall apart because he could not keep his pants zipped and has since found a girlfriend whom he has built a house for.

Bright, during his testimony stated that he and his wife have not been physically intimate for the past nine-years and yet they live under one roof.

READ ALSO:My Wife Attempted Suicide, Turned Our Children Against Me ‘Cos I Suddenly Became Poor —Husband

According to Zambia Observer, he told the court that all was well with him and his wife until she started frequenting mountains prayers, leaving house duties unattended to.

Bright told court that at one point, his wife came home late from the mountains and he locked her outside.

He said that he then left her to sleep on the veranda, but that the next day she organised her relatives to appeal to him.

“I was not interested in the meeting because I’ve lost affection for her.

“When her relatives came, I overheard her telling them that I was a drunkard who was weak when it came to sex.

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“She even told me point blank that I am not man enough and that hurts me,” he said.

According to Zambia Observer, Bright further told the court that his wife stopped washing and cooking for him and that he had been doing things on his own for many years.

However, Musende told court that she and Bright used to enjoy praying together until he started having an affair with another woman .

“How can I be cooking for a man who does not eat my food?

“He has already moved all his clothes from our room.

“He has not made love to me for the past nine years because he has found another woman,” she said.

READ ALSO:My Husband Is A Figurehead, I Feed Our Five Children, Pay Their Fees

She added that Bright was not working , but the moment he got a job, he got a girlfriend who he would frequent Nakonde with to do business trips.

She told the court that she tried to dialogue with her husband for the sake of the children on many occasions, but he had made up his mind to be with the other woman he had found.

“My husband introduced me to the church as he was an influential elder and we served the Lord together, but upon finding another woman, he changed completely.

“He has been sleeping on the couch for the past three months,” she said.

Passing judgment, Kabushi Local Court Presiding Senior Magistrate, John Kabwe, sitting with another Senior Magistrate, Emelda Masuwa, granted divorce because reconciliation failed.