A'Ibom Court Commits Policeman, Bus Conductor To Death For Kidnap

Uyo - Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has sentenced Police Corporal Mbazigwe Chinedu Friday and bus conductor, Isaac Eddy Ndeesor, to death by hanging for 2015 kidnap of Elder Akara Johnson Mendie, Vice Principal at Community Secondary School, Nkek, Ukanafun Local Government Area (LGA) of the state.

Justice Nsemeke Daniel, found  both Defendants guilty of conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms after 10 years of trial the judge termed delayed and unacceptable. 

In testimonies shared in the court, the victim narrated he was abducted 5 July 2015, at about 3:30 pm, while returning from church with his wife and other family members along Urua Akpan Udosen/Ikot Unah Road, Ukanafun.

The victim’s wife reccalled that four armed men in a Toyota Camry blocked their vehicle, grabbed her husband and sped off, just as they also made away with her handbag containing documents, including a will, a Power of Attorney and her phone.

Blindfolded and taken to an unknown location, the kidnappers told him one of his brothers had offered them N50Million to eliminate him but that they were willing to spare his life for N25Million ransome, the victim further told the Court.

After days in captivity, negotiations flowed till 10 July, 2015 when N200,000 ransome was paid through the victim’s younger sister, leading to his released and dropping off in Bori, Rivers State, where he reported at Bori Police Station whose Divisional Police Officer took care of his transportation  back to his Akwa Ibom home. 

Victim’s sister, resident in Bayelsa State, narrated the stress the kidnappers subjected her on location to deliver the ransome, changing the pickup point from Bayelsa to Rumuokoro, then to Trailer Park, Ogoni, Rivers.

Eventually, she was directed to a roundabout in Ikwerre where three masked men on a motorcycle grabbed the ransom and fled before releasing the brother the day after.

One of those convicted, Friday, 41, native of Umucha in Isiala Ngwa South LGA, Abia State, was at the time of the crime, a Police Corporal attached to MOPOL 57, Ukana, Essien Udim LGA, Akwa Ibom State.

Friday in confessional statement claimed an unnamed “honourable” wanted the victim kidnapped for allegedly killing his friend.

He addmitted confronting and blocking the victim's vehicle with his private Toyota Camry as Felix and Ndeesor, two of his gang members dragged out the school Vice Principal and forced him inside his (Friday') car.

In course of the kidnap, the Camry developed a fault, he had to board public transport to Uyo, retrieved his Volkswagen Golf and returned to continue the operation, moving the victim to a bush in Ogoni, Rivers.

On his role in the crime, Friday told Police he was contacted by one Felix (surname unknown) he had known from MOPOL 56 in Ogoni. 

He claimed Felix (still on the run) had introduced another accomplice identified as ‘Different’ while also acknowleding that the weapon they used in the crime was not an official Police firearm and his accomplices were not Police officers.

Ndeesor, the second convict, first to be arrested among suspects by men of the Department of State Services, DSS, led the security operatives to Friday.

The uthorities during a search in Corporal Friday's home recovered a locally made revolver pistol, three rounds of 9mm live ammunition, five rounds of AK-47 ammunition, one empty AK-47 magazine, one wrap of Indian hemp, CCTV equipment, multiple GSM phones, ATM cards, SIM packs and car accessories.

Ndeesor, native of Ogoni, about 28 at the time of the offence, resided in Ahoada, also in Rivers. 

Aside corroborating Friday's confessions, Ndeesor admitted taking possession and using the victim’s phone, a move that ultimately led to his arrest after security agencies tracked the device.

Delivering judgment, Justice Nsemeke Daniel, unhappy over the delay in a case filed since 2016, dismissed Friday, First Defendant’s claim of frame-up, stating his explanations were inconsistent and did not affect the substance of the charges.

"How can a police officer lead a gang of kidnappers to abduct a poor victim returning from church with his wife and family?” the judge queried.

Satisfied that the Prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, Justice Daniel convicted both Friday and Ndeesor on all three count.

“You shall be hanged by the neck until you be dead. May God have mercy on you", Justice Daniel declared.