Court Hands Down 20 Years Jail Term to Kidnappers of Ozekhome, SAN
Alex Enumah in Abuja
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday sentenced Kelvin Oniarah Eziegbe and Frank Azuekor to 20 years in prison for the kidnapping of Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN.
Justice Nyako handed down the jail terms shortly after finding the defendants guilty in the 13-count charge filed against them by the federal government.
The conviction and subsequent sentencing is coming 10 years after the defendants which include; Eziegbe, Azuekor, Michael Omonigho and Haruna Momoh, were first arraigned before the federal High Court for kidnapping the senior lawyer and then Delta Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Hope Eghagha.
However, while Omonigho, a priest of a shrine, was discharged and acquitted, the Department of State Service (DSS) was ordered to fish out and arrest Momoh who is said to be at large.
Justice Nyako, who pointed out that some of the 13-count charge for which the convicts were arraigned carries life imprisonment, stated that she had to use her discretion to sentence them to 20 years imprisonment which will commence from the date of their arrest.
Meanwhile, she ordered that the defendants be transferred from the custody of the DSS to the correctional centre to serve their imprisonment.
Earlier before the sentencing, the convicts prayed Justice Nyako for mercy in the sentencing saying that they have never been convicted for any offence before now.
Eziegbe specifically pleaded the court for mercy on grounds of health challenges which he had been battling with since the past 10 years he had been in the custody of the DSS.
Their lawyer, Mr. Bala Dakum, joined the convicts in pleading for mercy in the sentencing, while the prosecution counsel, Chioma Onuegbu and Chinwe Obasi, reminded the court of the gravity of the offences for which the defendants were convicted.
Ahmed Tijani counsel to Momoh, who was said to have escaped from custody said his client, slammed with a five count charge, bordering on kidnapping and terrorism did not escape from lawful custody.
The court had in the judgement told the DSS to find, arrest and arraign Momoh, a directive Tijani said will be addressed, “When we get to the bridge”.
Charges against the defendants, who were docked in 2013 include, 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.
The duo of Eziegbe and Azuekor were accused in counts two and three of conspiracy to commit terrorism act of murder by shooting and killing five police officers and two prison officials; committing intentional murder by shooting to killing five police officers and two prison officials.
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.
Michael 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 report the group’s 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).
