Date Published: 05/14/09

Kidnappers in Akwa Ibom to face death penalty

Kidnapping in Akwa Ibom now attracts a death penalty with the state governor empowered to decide the means and place of execution of the convict.

Akwa Ibom Governor, Chief Godswill O. Akpabio, who signed a Bill for a law to prohibit terrorism, kidnapping, hostage taking and the use of bombs and other explosives and for other matters related therewith on Thursday, May 14, 2009, said any person committing the offence would on conviction be sentenced to death.

 “We are not going to be cowed by some people who have abandoned armed robbery to take to kidnapping. We are going to bring the full weight of the law on anybody culpable”, he warned.

According to him, any person who intimidates or threatens another person with intent of hostage taking or kidnapping would on conviction be liable to seven years of imprisonment.

 The governor, who was flanked by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Umana Okon Umana and Speaker in the state House of Assembly, Engr. Ignatius Edet, hinted that any person who unlawfully receives or has bombs and other explosives in his possession is liable on conviction to 14 years of imprisonment.

On terrorism, the governor argued that any person who contravenes the law is to be sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment without option of fine.

For any person who assists an escape of a terrorist, Akpabio explained that the accomplice would go in for 21 years of imprisonment.

On any traditional ruler whose domain is used with or without his knowledge for hostage taking, he said the culprit would be dethroned.

The governor, who thanked the speaker and other members of the House of Assembly for speedy passage of the bill into law, warmed that government would forfeit any premises or property used to perpetrate any of the crimes without payment of any compensation to the owner.

He said the law now serves as a deterrent to Akwa Ibom people to desist from the crimes, adding “A group of criminals or armed robbers must not intimate or harass innocent Akwa Ibom people whether for criminal or political reasons”.

Akpabio advised the people to go about their normal business without fear or molestation, limiting that “Government is prepared to deal with any person caught committing in the crime”.

In another similar development, Governor Akpabio has signed two bills- Joint Account and Agency for Community and Social Development- into law.

On Joint Account law, he said the previous law was repealed when a law forbade a member of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) serving in the Joint account.

The governor said following the new law, people would have access to loans from Central Bank of Nigeria and Federal Ministry Agriculture to undertake agricultural production.

Akpabio further enjoined the Akwa Ibom people to engage in large-scale agricultural production to guarantee more food for the masses and for export.

 For the Bill establishing Agency for community and social Development, he posited that members would work with international agencies and Akwa Ibom people in diaspora to bring development projects to the rural communities in the state.