Prominent legal practitioner and former NBA national officer, John Aikpokpo-Martins, has expressed outrage over what he described as a miscarriage of justice in the sentencing of individuals convicted for the murder of Godwin Ikoiwak, a lawyer with the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice and member of the NBA Uyo Branch.
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In a strongly worded statement titled “Let’s Do It… for Ourselves”, Aikpokpo-Martins condemned the sentences handed down by Hon. Justice Bassey Nkanang of the Akwa Ibom State High Court in Charge No. HU/50/2022, calling them “outrageously lenient” and a “travesty of justice.”
According to him, the court found that Ikoiwak died after ingesting a poisonous substance organophosphate (commonly known as Ota piapia) at his mother-in-law’s house. An autopsy also revealed physical injuries on his eye socket, neck, and ankle, indicating a violent and painful death.
Despite these findings, the court sentenced the convicts as follows:
- Margaret Patrick Umoh (mother-in-law) and Owoidoho Patrick Umoh (sister-in-law) received 10 years imprisonment each for murder.
- Abasieseabanga Godwin Ikoiwak (wife of the deceased), convicted as an accessory after the fact, received 2 years imprisonment.
- Rev. Fr. Gabriel Ekong received 4 years imprisonment, but was allegedly granted bail just 12 days after sentencing by Hon. Justice Winifred Umohandi.
Aikpokpo-Martins said the failure to apply the mandatory death sentence for murder convictions under Nigerian law reflects disregard for both justice and the value of a lawyer’s life.
“The life of a lawyer is not this cheap,” he said. “It is unconscionable that the court would treat it as such by neglecting to impose the mandatory death sentence as prescribed by law.”
He further made a passionate call for action, urging:
- The Attorney-General of Akwa Ibom State to immediately appeal the sentences.
- The NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, and the NBA Uyo Branch Chairman to take urgent steps to ensure justice is served.
- The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) to commence disciplinary proceedings against Abasieseabanga Ikoiwak, the wife of the late lawyer.
“This is a moment for the Nigerian Bar Association and all lawyers of conscience to rise and demand justice for our fallen colleague,” he concluded. “Our welfare must remain a priorityeven in death. Anything less would be a betrayal of trust and a dangerous precedent for the future.”
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