Delta judiciary convicts 16 kidnappers, sentences nine to death by hanging

A total number of 16 kidnappers involved in high profile kidnap cases were convicted while nine persons who were charged with murder were convicted and sentenced to death by hanging in 2018/2019 Legal Year.

Delta State Chief Judge, Justice Marshal Umukoro made this known at the special court session held in Asaba, the State capital to usher in the new Legal year immediately after a special thanksgiving mass at Emmanuel the Saviour Catholic Church.

He said 7,358 cases pending in the High Court while 3, 919 were filed and 3, 307 cases were disposed and 60 convictions were recorded.

He said 340 persons were convicted in the Magistrates’ Court out of the 4, 585 cases filed and a total number of 8, 501 pending cases as at the end of July, 2019.

Marking the beginning of its 2019/2020 Legal year after 42 working days of annual vacation by Judges in the State, the Chief Judge called for a state of emergency against the get-rich-quick scourge which has occasioned the high rate of crime in the society.

The occasion was attended by the State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his Deputy Kingsley Utuaro, the Speaker of Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori and members of the State Executive Council.

Umukoro who chronicled the achievements of the Judiciary in stemming upsurge of criminality in the State, decried the infiltration of crime in families, educational system, state institutions, corridors of power and even churches and mosques.

He said:” The onslaught against violent crimes in our society is an undertaking in respect of which we must all see ourselves as stakeholders.

“We have a common enemy here and no stone should be left unturned in order to spare our dear State. The bleak prospect of socio-economic collapse precipitated by an atmosphere of general insecurity of life and property.”

While emphasising the increasing in number of cases filed in courts and amount of patronage enjoyed from members of the public due to renewed public confidence in the Judiciary, the number one Judicial Officer called for a state of emergency against the get-rich-quick scourge which has occasioned by the high rate of crime in the society.

Justice Umukoro who chronicled the achievements of the Judiciary in stemming upsurge of criminality in the State, decried the infiltration of crime in families, educational system, state institutions, corridors of power and even churches and mosques, stated, “The onslaught against violent crimes in our society is an undertaking which we must all see ourselves as stakeholders. We have a common enemy here and no stone should be left unturned in order to spare our dear State the bleak prospect of socio-economic collapse precipitated by an atmosphere of general insecurity of life and property.”