Four bag 40-year jail term for kidnapping ex-Bayelsa commissioner

A Bayelsa High Court sitting in Ogbia Town, Ogbia Local Government Area of the state, has sentenced four kidnappers to 40 years each.

The four men kidnapped a former Commissioner for Trade and Investment in the state, Federal Otokito, on January 20, 2022, and demanded a ransom.

Delivering judgment in Suit No OHC/4C/2022 on Tuesday, the presiding judge, S.W. Amaduobogha, declared that Kingsley Obhesi (24), Joshua Abi (32), Gift Damene (38), and Powell Inegite (36) were guilty of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

Police prosecuting counsel, Stella Jerry-Friday, told the court that on January 20, 2022, at Otuokpoti community in Ogbia Local Government Area, the convicts armed with guns and offensive weapons, unlawfully took away Otokito against his will.

Jerry-Friday said, “They took him to Igbomotoru bush in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state with the intent to demand ransom or any other unlawful consideration and thereby committed an offence.”

The presiding judge, S.W. Amaduobogha, declared that the investigative and prosecution team had done due diligence and proved beyond reasonable doubt the case of conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms against the convicts