Twenty-one person accused of complicity in the kidnap of two Chinese nationals working with Innoson Group, Nnewi, in 2007 were yesterday formally arraigned at the Federal High Court, Awka, on seven count charges of felony and treason.

Among the 21 accused is an Nnewi-based motorcycle spare parts giant, Chief Pius Ogbuawa who was accused of habouring and providing assistance to the other 20 accused persons.
When the matter was called up yesterday, the entire 21 accused were present, making the reading of their charges possible.

The charge against them reads, “On the 17th of March between Nnewi, Anambra State and Ekoli Edda, Ebonyi State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court conspired among yourselves to commit felony to wit-treason and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37(2) of the criminal code C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“Between the months of March and April 2007 at Nnewi, Anambra State and Ekoli-Adda, Ebonyi State within the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court in order to intimidate or overawe the president levied war against the state with arms and ammunition by abducting Mr. Niu Quijang and Shey Fend, Chinese national, whom you alleged entered into the state of Biafra without visas and thereafter engaged the security in a gun duel while holding captive the Chinese nationals and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 37(1) of the Criminal Code Cap C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“That you Pius Ogbuawa between the months of March and April, 2007 at Nnewi, Anambra state knowingly haboured and provided assistance to the above named accused persons even when you know that the security agents were searching for them and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 40(a) of the criminal code Cap C38 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“On or about the 17th day of March, 2007 Nnewi in Anambra State and Ekoli Edda in Ebonyi State committed a terrorist act, to wit: kidnapping of two Chinese nationals Mr. Niu Quijang and Shey Feng and one Sylvester Unigwe while being armed and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 15(2) of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004. That you Pius Ogbuawa on or about the 17th day of March, 2007 between Nnewi in Anambra State and Ekoli-Edda in Ebonyi State committed a terrorist act, to wit: sponsoring kidnapping and deprivation of liberty and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 15(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004.

“On or about the 17th day of March 2007 created general insurrection and public emergency in Anambra State by kidnapping and use of arms and ammunition and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 15(2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004.
“That you Pius Ogbuawa on or about the 17th day of March, 2007 between Nnewi in Anambra State and Ekoli-Edda in Ebonyi State willfully provided money and motor cycles to one Innocent Orji in the knowledge that the money and the motorcycles shall be used for acts of terrorism and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 15(1) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Act, 2004.”

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Oseloka Osigwe, who had the fiat of the attorney general to prosecute the matter amended part of count one to read March 17, 2007 and count five, to read section 15, subsection 3 instead of section 15, subsection 2. After the reading of the charge and pleading of not guilty by the accused persons, Mr. Osigwe told the court that he had his witnesses and would want them to be called to the witness box.
This was objected to by counsel to Ogbuawa, Mr. B. S. Nwankwo, who said he had a bail application, urging the court to look at it and grant his client bail on compassionate ground as he had just returned from India where he underwent a major surgery.

He promised the court that his client would be in court at any adjourned date as he would want the matter to go on immediately as it had lingered since 2007, adding that on the last adjourned date, he promised that his client would be back from hospital and would be in court which he fulfilled.

Mr. Osigwe, however, opposed the application, saying that there was no such application before him, adding that he saw nothing in the medical report tendered by counsel to Ogbuawa. He further said if granted bail, the suspect with his position and reach would interfere with prosecution of the matter.
Ruling on the matter, the presiding Judge, Justice Peter Olayiwole asked the counsel to make his application available to the prosecuting counsel and adjourned the matter to August 5, 2010 for the bail applications to be heard.
He also remanded all the accused in prison custody.

Kill them.