Court jails ex-Akwa Ibom Councillor for misinforming police

By Abasiofiok Inyang

Saviour Hanson, a 58-year-old former councilor In Akwa Ibom State, has been sentenced to a one-year imprisonment for giving police false information on theft and murder of a three-day-old baby.

Hanson, who represented Midim Ward in Abak Local Government Area, was sentenced to a one-year jail term.

Akpan was standing trial before Magistrate Court 11, Uyo presided over by Chief Magistrate Sam Ukoima following a petition he sent to the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, through the Deputy Commissioner of Police.

In the petition, the Councillor who had aspired to represent Abak State Constituency in the State House of Assembly, had claimed that the village head of Nto Otong, Midim Clan, Abak Local Government Area, Akuku Patrick Okon Akerete, the village council members including Friday Okon Mboho, Chief Okon Akpan Udousoro, Rachel Linus Isong, and Boniface Etim Offiong had “sometimes in 2012 stole and murdered a three- day-old baby at Nto Otong village.”

Following the petition, the Akwa Ibom State Police Command arrested and detained Akuku Akerete, the village head and four others at Police Headquarters, Ikot Akpan Abia in Uyo.

In a charge number MU/778c/ 2020, the court found the information presented during the trial to be false, an offence punishable under Section 127 (1) (a) of the Criminal Code, Cap 38 Volume 2, Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000. The offence carries a one-year imprisonment.

A background of the case showed that a three (3) day old baby was in 2012, dumped in an uncompleted building in the village but was discovered by one Mrs Affiong Atai who raised an alarm and drew the attention of the village head who then invited the police from Abak Divisional Headquarters, Ndot.

The police, in company of Mrs Affiong Atai, took the babyu to Akwa Ibom State Government Welfare office for safe custody.

However, when after eight days Hon. Saviour Hanson Akpan had an issue with members of the village council, he petitioned the State Police Command, alleging that the village head and his cabinet members “stole the baby, murdered him and pounded on a mortar for ritual purposes.”

Based on the petition, the police swooped in and arrested all the five suspects including the village head and detained them for several days at the police headquarters.

Upon their release on bail, the village head petitioned the Commissioner of Police to investigate the allegation and charge the case to court.

It was discovered that, according to court records presented, the petition was false and the petitioner could not prove the allegation but “relied on what someone told him.”

Delivering judgment in Uyo on Wednesday, April 9, Chief Magistrate Ukoima found the petitioner, Akpan guilty of raising false information to mislead the police to arrest the village head and others.

The Chief Magistrate, in a one hour, 25 minutes judgment, admonished citizens to always give police useful information to curb crime, condemning giving police false information.

Upon plea for leniency by counsel to Hon. Saviour Hanson Akpan, the presiding Magistrate Ukoima reduced the sentence to six months in prison without an option of fine and the former councilor was sent to Uyo Correctional Center.

Reacting to the judgment, Akuku Patrick Okon Akerete described it as “excellentisma”, saying he has been vindicated of the false allegation.

He commended the magistrate for being diligent and meticulous in handling the case to a conclusion.

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