Lance Corporal Oge Etudo has been sentenced to death by an
Abuja High Court which found him guilty of rape and culpable homicide committed
on March 27, 2014.
Abuja High Court which found him guilty of rape and culpable homicide committed
on March 27, 2014.
According to Vanguard news, the 30 year old convicted
soldier was said to have abducted, stabbed and raped a married woman identified
as Binta Usman Kadede to death inside the bush at Dei-Dei
soldier was said to have abducted, stabbed and raped a married woman identified
as Binta Usman Kadede to death inside the bush at Dei-Dei
Etudo was formerly attached to a battalion of the Nigerian Army
at Lungi Barracks in Abuja before being found guilty of breaching sections 220
and 221 of the Penal Code law.
at Lungi Barracks in Abuja before being found guilty of breaching sections 220
and 221 of the Penal Code law.
The charges against him read: “That you L/Cpl Oge Etudo “M” 27 years of Nigerian Army, Lungi Barracks
Abuja on or about March 27, 2014, at about 1600hrs at Dei-Dei, near Conoil
filling station, Abuja within the Abuja judicial division did committed
culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of one
Binta Usman Kadede “f” of Dei-Dei village Abuja by stabbing her on the neck and
body with knife which resulted to her death when you know that death will be
the probable consequences of your act. You thereby committed an offence
contrary to section 220 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 221 of
the Penal Code.
Abuja on or about March 27, 2014, at about 1600hrs at Dei-Dei, near Conoil
filling station, Abuja within the Abuja judicial division did committed
culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of one
Binta Usman Kadede “f” of Dei-Dei village Abuja by stabbing her on the neck and
body with knife which resulted to her death when you know that death will be
the probable consequences of your act. You thereby committed an offence
contrary to section 220 of the Penal Code and punishable under section 221 of
the Penal Code.
“That you L/Cpl Oge
Etudo “M” 27 years of Nigerian Army, Lungi Barracks Abuja on or about March 27,
2014, at about 1600hrs at Dei-Dei, near Conoil filling station, Abuja within
the Abuja judicial division did rape one Binta Usman Kadade “f” of Dei-Dei
village by forcefully having sexual intercourse with her against her wish and
thereafter stabbed her neck and body with knife to death you thereby committed
an offence contrary to section 282 of the Penal Code and punishable under
section 283 of the Penal Code”.
Etudo “M” 27 years of Nigerian Army, Lungi Barracks Abuja on or about March 27,
2014, at about 1600hrs at Dei-Dei, near Conoil filling station, Abuja within
the Abuja judicial division did rape one Binta Usman Kadade “f” of Dei-Dei
village by forcefully having sexual intercourse with her against her wish and
thereafter stabbed her neck and body with knife to death you thereby committed
an offence contrary to section 282 of the Penal Code and punishable under
section 283 of the Penal Code”.
He pleaded not guilty and equally entered a
no-case-submission after the prosecution closed its case after it called four
witnesses and tendered 21 exhibits. After the dismissal of his
no-case-submission, the accused soldier decided to present himself as a
testifier, insisting that he was innocent of the charge.
no-case-submission after the prosecution closed its case after it called four
witnesses and tendered 21 exhibits. After the dismissal of his
no-case-submission, the accused soldier decided to present himself as a
testifier, insisting that he was innocent of the charge.
He claimed that he went to see a friend called Igwe around
that area to chat his wedding plans with him.
that area to chat his wedding plans with him.
He said “I was a guard
commander in my Commander Tango’s house. I took a break by 10 am after
submitting my arms and ammunition to my junior, I left to Dei-Dei to see my
friend called Igwe at Dei-Dei to discuss about my planned white wedding.
commander in my Commander Tango’s house. I took a break by 10 am after
submitting my arms and ammunition to my junior, I left to Dei-Dei to see my
friend called Igwe at Dei-Dei to discuss about my planned white wedding.
“I stopped at Dei-Dei
to urinate, in the process I was attacked by some hoodlums who inflicted
injuries in me. I ran to the Conoil filling station.”
to urinate, in the process I was attacked by some hoodlums who inflicted
injuries in me. I ran to the Conoil filling station.”
“On reaching the
Conoil, I shouted thief! thief! and fainted due to loss of blood.
Conoil, I shouted thief! thief! and fainted due to loss of blood.
“I did not know what
happened after regaining consciousness, I found myself in the hospital naked.”
happened after regaining consciousness, I found myself in the hospital naked.”
However, Usman Ishaq, a security guard at a block industry
in Dei- Dei, one of the prosecution witnesses, told the court that he saw the
defendant forced the victim into the bush.
in Dei- Dei, one of the prosecution witnesses, told the court that he saw the
defendant forced the victim into the bush.
“He was a passenger on
a motorbike,(okada) when he came towards the deceased side, he told the Okada
rider to stop. He dropped from the motorcycle and asked him to go. And he
forced the deceased – a milk seller, into the bush.
a motorbike,(okada) when he came towards the deceased side, he told the Okada
rider to stop. He dropped from the motorcycle and asked him to go. And he
forced the deceased – a milk seller, into the bush.
“When I got to the
point where they entered the bush, I met the accused person on top of the
deceased with knife. He was stabbing her on the neck and on the abdomen”.
point where they entered the bush, I met the accused person on top of the
deceased with knife. He was stabbing her on the neck and on the abdomen”.
After the Husband of the deceased finished testifying, Mr.
Simon Lough who is the prosecution counsel, further presented a medical report
signed by a chief consultant pathologist, Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital,
Abuja, Dr. A.U. Mukthar.
Simon Lough who is the prosecution counsel, further presented a medical report
signed by a chief consultant pathologist, Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital,
Abuja, Dr. A.U. Mukthar.
After evaluation of the evidence and exhibits placed before
the trial Justice, person in A.S. Adepoju, she held that the prosecution
successfully proved its case against the accused person.
the trial Justice, person in A.S. Adepoju, she held that the prosecution
successfully proved its case against the accused person.
“I will not also show
mercy to him”, the Judge who was almost moved to tears declared.
mercy to him”, the Judge who was almost moved to tears declared.
“The accused person is
hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the offence of culpable homicide under
section 221 of the Panel Code
hereby sentenced to death by hanging for the offence of culpable homicide under
section 221 of the Panel Code
“He is to pay the
supreme price for his callousness and his ungodliness.
supreme price for his callousness and his ungodliness.
“He has shown no mercy
by slaying the victim, I have no mercy for him as well.”
by slaying the victim, I have no mercy for him as well.”
On the charge of rape,
the accused is sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour. The terms
are to run concurrently.” Justice Adepoju held.
the accused is sentenced to five years imprisonment with hard labour. The terms
are to run concurrently.” Justice Adepoju held.