The Akwa Ibom State High Court, Essien Udim, has sentenced two brothers to death for the murder of a farmer over a parcel of land.

The convicted individuals are 48-year-old Uduak Udo Umoren, a pastor and motorcyclist, and 34-year-old Emmanuel Udo Umoren, a farmer and panel beater, both from Adiasim Ikot Ekon Village in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

They were found guilty of murdering 45-year-old farmer and trader Iboro Akpan Joe from Ikot Otu, Essien Udim, who had visited his sister-in-law in Adiasim Ikot Ekon to offer condolences on her husband’s death.

The sister-in-law requested the deceased’s company to assess her late husband’s farmland for potential sale to fund the burial.

While on the land, the wife of the second convict accused them of attempting to bury a charm on their family land.

Subsequently, the second convict assaulted the deceased, and his wife called her son and brother-in-law, who joined in attacking the deceased with machetes and broken bottles.

Efforts by the sister-in-law and the deceased’s wife, who arrived at the scene upon hearing cries for help, were futile.

The deceased was beaten into a coma and dragged to his family compound near the farm.
Members of Adiasim Ikot Ekon Village’s youth, led by their President, rescued him and took him to the General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, where he was denied treatment.

He was then taken back to his village, where he succumbed to his injuries three days later.

Presiding Judge Justice Winifred Effiong ruled that the prosecution team from the State Ministry of Justice had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt that the accused had intentionally killed the deceased.

Consequently, she sentenced both Uduak Udo Umoren and Emmanuel Udo Umoren to death by hanging.