Man from Nigeria imprisoned in Ireland for threatening to sever fingertips of pupils

A 22-year-old Nigerian national, Martin Ekhosuehi, has been found guilty by a jury at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, Ireland, on charges of aggravated burglary, assault causing harm, and making threats to kill, stemming from a disturbing incident that occurred on July 2, 2023, at a students' rental property on Highfield Avenue, College Road, Cork. The verdict resulted in Ekhosuehi being sentenced to a nine-year prison term for his role in a terrifying hour-long attack, during which he and an accomplice threatened to sever the fingers of two students if they refused to hand over money and drugs, as reported by The Irish Times. Ekhosuehi, who resides at Willow Gardens, Glanmire, Co Cork, had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. On Wednesday, Judge Sinead Behan handed down an 11-year prison sentence, suspending the final two years. The trial featured testimony from investigating officer Det Gda Eoghain O’Callaghan, who recounted the events surrounding the incident. At 7pm on July 2nd, 2023, two young men at the Highfield Avenue residence fled to a neighbour's house to sound the alarm, claiming that two men had forcibly entered their home. The intruders, one of whom wore an all-black tracksuit, a black ski-mask, blue latex gloves, and wielded a large chef's knife with a black handle, while the other wore a similar black tracksuit and gloves and carried a flathead screwdriver, demanded money from the students.

n

According to the court, the two men ransacked the house, inquiring about the location of hidden cocaine and cash, while holding the students at knifepoint and striking them on the head. One of the attackers issued a ominous threat, stating, "I will start cutting off fingers, on my mother's life, if I don't start finding something soon". The detective testified that the attackers made off with €30 in cash and the victims' phones before escaping through the back door. The perpetrators left behind a glove, which was subsequently forensically examined and found to bear a fingerprint matching Martin Ekhosuehi. Additionally, two gardaí who reviewed CCTV footage identified Ekhosuehi as a suspect. One of the victims had been on a call with his girlfriend in Drogheda when the break-in occurred, and she alerted the authorities after becoming concerned by the unusual noises and the abrupt end to the call. Upon arriving at the scene, officers knocked on the door and announced their presence through the letterbox, prompting the intruders to warn the students that they would be killed if they attempted to respond or alert the police.

n

After the suspects fled, gardaí returned to the scene and found the two victims visibly distressed, with cuts on their faces. Both students reported being punched and repeatedly threatened with death, leaving them fearing for their lives. The court was informed that Ekhosuehi had a history of 14 previous convictions, including three for possession of drugs for personal use, one for drug dealing, one for money laundering, two for possessing knives, and another for producing an article during a dispute. In delivering the sentence, Judge Behan characterized the crime as a carefully planned and premeditated act. "The accused had planned and premeditated this crime, taking steps to conceal their identities by dressing in a particular manner. They had a clear purpose in mind, and the hour-long duration of the attack must have felt like an eternity to the victims. I have not observed any indication of remorse or empathy from the accused towards the victims," she stated. Judge Behan noted that aggravated burglary typically warrants a starting sentence of 12 years; however, she reduced the sentence to 11 years and suspended the final two years, taking into account Ekhosuehi's youth and the support he receives from his family.