Ozekhome's Abductors Docked
Alleged kidnappers of a senior advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome and Delta Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Hope Eghagha, among others were arraigned before a federal high court siting in Abuja on. Monday.
The suspected kidnapers, Kelvin Oniarah Eziegbe, Frank Azuekor and Micheal Omonigho were accused of being behind series of kidnap and terrorism cases in the Edo-Delta states axis between 2010 and 2013.
The suspects who allegedly collected the sum of N75 from as ransom for the release of the lawyer and the commissioner were also charged with killing of five policemen and two prison officials
They were also said to have been involved in the kidnap of Attanasius Ugbome and his friend, Emmanuel Maka Omorogbe, and the
According to the 13-count charge on which the three were arraigned, they were said to have made about N75million from Ozekhome, Eghagha, Ugbome and Omorogbe before they were released.
They allegedly compelled Ozekhome to pay N40m (paid in US Dollars), while Eghagha paid N7m, Ugbome paid N20m, while Omorogbe paid N3.5m for their respective release.
The prosecutor, Mrs Chioma Onuegbu, gave the names of the policemen allegedly killed during the kidnap of Ozekhome and Eghagha to include: Paul Sunday Ajaka (an Assistant Superintendent of Police), Sunday Ewanshiha (Inspector), Michael Akpada (Inspector), Bakary Kong (Inspector) and Innocent Odoh (Sergeant).
The prison officials who lost their lives to the accused person are Lawrence Edore (Inspector) and Oyibo Okoye (SPA).
They pleaded not guilty to all the 13 counts of the charge.
in count one, they were charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism act to include kidnapping, accessory to act of terrorism, inciting persons to commit act of terrorism, recruitment, escape and abetting escape.
Eziegbe and Azuekor were, in counts two and three accused of conspiracy to commit terrorism act of murder by shooting and killing five police officers and two prison officials; commuting of intentional murder by shooting to killing five police officers and two prison officials.
They were, in counts four and five, accused of conspiring to engage in hostage taking for the purpose of compelling them to pay ransom and engaging in hostage taking by force of arm.
Eziegbe was, in count six, accused of working with some others at large to aid the escape of some members of his group, including Frank Azuekor on March 13, 2013 while they were being taken to state's High Court in Warri, Delta State, by attacking the prison vehicle in which they were being conveyed, killing the two prison officials.
In count eight, he was accused of recruiting about 50 boys as his gang members to participate in kidnapping of paople.
Azuekor was accused, in count seven, of escaping with others from lawful custody when the prison vehicle in which they were being conveyed to court was allegedly attacked by Eziegbe and others.
Omonigho was accused, in counts 12 and 13 of acting as the group's herbalist by providing "spiritual and moral support" to it, and failing to reporting the groups activities to security agencies.
Their alleged offences are said to be punishable under sections 1(2)(f), 8(1)(b), 10, 15(1), 17, d 19 of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011(as amended).
Following their plea of not guilty, their lawyer, Mr. Bala Dakum made an oral application for their bail but the court declined to hear any oral application and directed the lawyer to file a formal application and serve on the prosecutor for her response before it could be heard.
They Police had last year arraigned the three before a Magistrates' Court in Wuse, Abuja, but the matter was thereafter withdrawn from the court.
Sent
The suspected kidnapers, Kelvin Oniarah Eziegbe, Frank Azuekor and Micheal Omonigho were accused of being behind series of kidnap and terrorism cases in the Edo-Delta states axis between 2010 and 2013.
The suspects who allegedly collected the sum of N75 from as ransom for the release of the lawyer and the commissioner were also charged with killing of five policemen and two prison officials
They were also said to have been involved in the kidnap of Attanasius Ugbome and his friend, Emmanuel Maka Omorogbe, and the
According to the 13-count charge on which the three were arraigned, they were said to have made about N75million from Ozekhome, Eghagha, Ugbome and Omorogbe before they were released.
They allegedly compelled Ozekhome to pay N40m (paid in US Dollars), while Eghagha paid N7m, Ugbome paid N20m, while Omorogbe paid N3.5m for their respective release.
The prosecutor, Mrs Chioma Onuegbu, gave the names of the policemen allegedly killed during the kidnap of Ozekhome and Eghagha to include: Paul Sunday Ajaka (an Assistant Superintendent of Police), Sunday Ewanshiha (Inspector), Michael Akpada (Inspector), Bakary Kong (Inspector) and Innocent Odoh (Sergeant).
The prison officials who lost their lives to the accused person are Lawrence Edore (Inspector) and Oyibo Okoye (SPA).
They pleaded not guilty to all the 13 counts of the charge.
in count one, they were charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism act to include kidnapping, accessory to act of terrorism, inciting persons to commit act of terrorism, recruitment, escape and abetting escape.
Eziegbe and Azuekor were, in counts two and three accused of conspiracy to commit terrorism act of murder by shooting and killing five police officers and two prison officials; commuting of intentional murder by shooting to killing five police officers and two prison officials.
They were, in counts four and five, accused of conspiring to engage in hostage taking for the purpose of compelling them to pay ransom and engaging in hostage taking by force of arm.
Eziegbe was, in count six, accused of working with some others at large to aid the escape of some members of his group, including Frank Azuekor on March 13, 2013 while they were being taken to state's High Court in Warri, Delta State, by attacking the prison vehicle in which they were being conveyed, killing the two prison officials.
In count eight, he was accused of recruiting about 50 boys as his gang members to participate in kidnapping of paople.
Azuekor was accused, in count seven, of escaping with others from lawful custody when the prison vehicle in which they were being conveyed to court was allegedly attacked by Eziegbe and others.
Omonigho was accused, in counts 12 and 13 of acting as the group's herbalist by providing "spiritual and moral support" to it, and failing to reporting the groups activities to security agencies.
Their alleged offences are said to be punishable under sections 1(2)(f), 8(1)(b), 10, 15(1), 17, d 19 of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011(as amended).
Following their plea of not guilty, their lawyer, Mr. Bala Dakum made an oral application for their bail but the court declined to hear any oral application and directed the lawyer to file a formal application and serve on the prosecutor for her response before it could be heard.
They Police had last year arraigned the three before a Magistrates' Court in Wuse, Abuja, but the matter was thereafter withdrawn from the court.
Sent
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