From Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
Reactions continue to trail the sentence to 12 years six months jail term handed to the killer of the PDP women leader in Kogi State, Mrs Salome Abuh, who was burnt to death in her residence shortly after the November 16 governorship election.
A high court in idah had on Tuesday sentenced one Ocholi Edichie who was arraigned on offences that bordered on criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, mischief by fire and culpable homicide.
The trial judge, Justice Ajayi, while delivering his judgement said with the evidences made available to the court the defendant was culpable of the offences brought against him
He, however, said the offences brought against him was culpable homicide not punishable with death. He sentenced him to 12 years six months imprisonment.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the deceased and a lawyer from the Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General’s office, Otigbe Joseph, said the sentence was too light and does not comessurate with the heinous crime committed and vowed to challenge the ruling, at the appeal court
Also reacting in press a statement, a PDP women leader and an activist, Princess Grace Iye Adejoh said ‘the judgement passed on the murder case of one of our PDP women leaders, late Mrs Salome Abuh, is such that leaves one bewildered.
‘One begins to wonder on what basis the judgement was passed, because the judgement , to me does not commesurate with a weighty offence like murder case that it is.
“Also how come the judgement is passed on only one individual, what happened to the other attackers and their collaborators? Leaving the rest attackers and their collaborators, is like clearing the cobwebs and leaving the spider behind. The crime can still be repeated.
‘I believe the idea of Justice is to serve as a deterrent to others but if the justice served is seen to be weak or does not commesurate with the offence, then it may not serve this key purpose.
‘May the soul of Mrs Salome Abuh continue to rest in peace and may her family be greatly comforted by God always, the statement added.