UMEZE & ORS
V.
THE STATE
·
G. S. SOWEMIMO, J.S.C (Delivering the Leading Judgment): The Appellants were convicted for murder and sentenced to death by Ecoma J on 22nd of January 1975 at the South Eastern State (now Cross River State) High Court at Ikot Ekpene. The offence was committed on 6th January 1971 at Ikpa Nya Village, in Itu Division of Ikot Ekpene.
The deceased was an Ibibio. All the Appellants are Ibos. The Appellants live at Obinkita Village which is near Arochukwu. There had been conflicts between the two villages, Ikpa Nya and Obinkita for some time which were settled in Lagos. During the civil war, the Ibibios were evacuated from their villages and although not expressly stated, the Ibibios suspected that their rivals, the Ibos in Obinkita village must be connected with their removal. It was even suggested but the Ibibios denied it, that whilst in the refugee camp, they decided that on their return to their village they would drive away all the Ibo tenants from their land. This was the relationshi…