Man bags 17years prison term in Delta for kidnapping journalist

…Two men sentenced to 41 years imprisonment in Lagos

By Lolo Ayaba

A Delta State High Court sitting in Asaba has sentenced one James Okporua Otobrise, the kidnapper of a Warri based Journalist, Prince Monday Whiskey, to 17years in prison. Just as another Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced two men to 41 years in prison for kidnapping and armed robbery.


https://newsbeatsngr.com/man-bags-17years-prison-term-in-delta-for-kidnapping-journalist/

Delivering the judgment in Asaba, the Court presided over by Hon. Justice F.N. Azinge (Mrs.) said, “The sentence is to act as a deterrent to others, who believe that kidnapping is a lucrative enterprise or business and to rid the society of people like the Defendant who live on crime.

“Therefore I will pronounce the sentence as is provided under the law. You, James Okporua Otobrise is hereby sentenced as follows: Count I, 7years imprisonment, Count II, 10years imprisonment. To run consecutively. This is the judgement of the Court.”

The convict was arraigned by the Delta State Government on two count charges bordering on conspiracy to wit: Kidnapping but he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Recall that Otobrise allegedly kidnapped the Warri based Journalist, Prince Monday Whiskey on the 19th of March 2012 at Orhuwhorhun in Udu Local Government Area of Delta State.

They held the Journalist captive in an uncompleted building belonging to him (convict), blindfolded and chained the hands and legs with padlocks, but the Journalist managed to escape through a window on the 20th of March 2012.

Thereafter, the current Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Akpokona Omafuaire by chance rescued the victim along Oguname-Olomu.

In a chat with Journalists, Prince Monday Whiskey hailed members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Delta State Council for the judgment.

In related judgement, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo of an Ikeja Special Offences Court, Lagos yesterday sentenced two men to 41 years in prison for kidnapping and armed robbery.

The convicts are Kelvin Emenike Ukoh, 32 and Emeka Obasi, 33.

They were convicted for the kidnapping of one Mr Ugoje Jude, a shipping agent, and his staff, Miss Piriye Gogo on August 3, 2012, at about 9 pm.

The duo were arraigned alongside three others: Uche Igbani, 28, Chibuzor Osuagwu, 33 and a 36-year-old woman, Onowu Ngozi, on a 14 count-charge bothering on conspiracy, kidnapping, armed robbery and murder.

The State prosecuting Counsel, Mrs K. O Sarumi told the court that the convicts abducted the victims at gunpoint, at Alakija into 7th Avenue, while driving home in a Honda Pilot car and took them to an unidentified location.

Mr Jude testifying before the court said that his abductors initially ordered him to pay N10m for his release but after much negotiations that they collected N5m.

However, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo convicted and sentenced Ukoh and Obasi to 5, 15 and 21 years for conspiracy, kidnapping and armed robbery respectively, the other three were discharged and acquitted by the court.

Justice Taiwo said that the prosecution could not prove beyond reasonable doubt the nexus linking the other three: Igbani, Osuagwu, Ngozi to the alleged charges of murder, conspiracy, Kidnapping and armed robbery.

The judge also noted that the prosecution could not present any evidence of murder as charged against all the defendants, aside from their confessional statements.

While Igbani and Osuagwu claimed they were arrested on their way to work, Ngozi said that Udoh, her brother’s friend, brought police to her house to arrest her brother, who was at large but now deceased.

Ngozi claimed that when the police couldn’t find her brother, she was arrested instead.

Booked

Following the thread, NCAN will soon be here

Anything to make the society a better n safe place is welcome development