N50m extortion: Akwa Ibom poly lecturer, accomplice sentenced to 11 years in jail.

A lecturer at Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Abel Udo Jacob, and his accomplice, Innocent Nicholas Ntokon, have been sentenced to a combined 11 years in prison by the Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene for their roles in a N50 million extortion scheme.

Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Augustine Odokwo found the two men guilty of subjecting businessman Edikan Jacob Jackson to years of threats, intimidation and financial exploitation, which led to losses exceeding N50 million.

The court heard that between 2016 and 2020, Ntokon, identified as a leader of the Klans Confraternity, allegedly led a prolonged campaign of intimidation against the victim. He was said to have sent armed associates to the businessman’s shops and issued threats against members of his family in order to force him into making monthly payments.

Jacob, the lecturer, was found to have played a key role in the operation by acting as the group’s financial intermediary, allowing the extorted money to pass through his bank account.

In a judgment that lasted about two hours, Justice Odokwo described Ntokon as someone who concealed his activities behind the appearance of being a trader while engaging in cult-related and extortion activities.

Ntokon received an eight-year prison sentence on charges including demanding with menace, stealing, terrorism and cultism, while Jacob was sentenced to three years for demanding with menace, stealing and terrorism. The sentences are to run concurrently, bringing their combined jail term to 11 years.

The court also ordered the convicts to jointly pay N25 million in restitution to the victim, stressing that criminal activity must not yield benefits.

In addition, a Toyota Avensis and a Mercedes-Benz identified as proceeds of the crime were ordered forfeited to the state and will be auctioned, with the proceeds used as part compensation for the victim.