An Akwa Ibom State High Court has sentenced four men to death by hanging for their roles in a series of kidnappings in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom State, and neighbouring communities in Rivers State.
The convicts were found guilty of kidnapping an Anambra State businessman, Mr. Chijioke Anyanwuor, proprietor of Jon KAMSY Supermarket in Ikot Abasi, after collecting a ₦3 million ransom from his family.
Those condemned are Marvelous Ndah, 38, of Ikot Iyire, Edemaya in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area; Anthony Anthony Akpan, 37, from Ekput in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area; Aniema Eshiet, 34, of Oborenyin, Ikot Abasi; and Onyebule Gift Ogbonna, 41, from Omuma Local Government Area of Rivers State.
They were arraigned alongside two other defendants, Uche Success Nwokocha and Chidi Christian Nwokoma, who were discharged and acquitted for lack of evidence linking them to the crime.
The defendants faced a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, contrary to Section 552 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38, Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria 2000, and kidnapping, contrary to Section 1(2) of the Akwa Ibom State Internal Security and Enforcement Law, 2009.
Delivering a judgment that lasted over two hours, Justice Archibong Archibong held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and found the four defendants guilty as charged.
“I hope this judgment will act as a deterrent to those who, like the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th defendants, and all those who aspire to be like them,” the judge held.
The court heard that on January 25, 2016, the gang abducted Anyanwuor in front of his residence in Ikot Abasi. Although a ₦3 million ransom was paid, the victim died in captivity.
His body was later buried in a shallow grave at Ikot Iyire, Edemaya, Ikot Abasi, before being exhumed about four months later and reburied in Agulu, Anambra State. He was survived by his widow and four children.
Evidence further showed that on April 16, 2016, the same gang kidnapped Mrs. Jewel Emem Thomas, a lecturer at Akwa Ibom State University, from her residence along Ikpetim Road, Ikot Abasi. After collecting a ₦2 million ransom, the kidnappers released her on April 19, 2016.
Investigations by the Department of State Services (DSS) led to the arrest of Ndah on April 26, 2016, in Uyo. His confession implicated other members of the gang and detailed several abduction operations carried out in 2016.
Subsequent arrests followed, including those of Akpan and Eshiet, who also made statements admitting various roles in the kidnappings.
Justice Archibong, however, acquitted Uche Success Nwokocha and Chidi Christian Nwokoma, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish credible evidence linking them to the kidnapping of the late Anyanwuor.