An Ikeja Excessive court docket sitting in Lagos State on Monday, sentenced two former gang members of billionaire kidnapper, Chukwudimeme Onwuamadike, often known as Evans to 41 years in jail.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo sentenced the convicts, 32-year-old Kelvin Emenike Ukoh and Emeka Obasi, 33 over the kidnapping of 1 Ugoje Jude, a transport agent, and his employees, Miss Piriye Gogo on August 3, 2012.
The convicts have been arraigned in 2013 alongside three others: Uche Igbani, 28, Chibuzor Osuagwu, 33 and a 36-year-old girl, Onowu Ngozi, on a 14 count-charge bothering on conspiracy, kidn
The gang had kidnapped Ugoje and one other employees, Piriye Gogo who have been taken to an unknown vacation spot by their chief, Evans.
Narrating her ordeal earlier than the court docket, Miss Gogo stated that the three males accosted them with rifles on their approach dwelling and that she was virtually raped contained in the automotive, however was saved by her month-to-month menstrual interval.
Whereas being led in proof earlier than the court docket, Gogo disclosed that throughout the abduction, one of many kidnappers, Obasi, got here into the automotive, after dragging her boss out for negotiation at an undisclosed location, and began dealing with along with her breast.
Gogo stated, “He got here into the automotive, tore my garments, pulled down a facet of my bra and started caressing my breast. He thereafter began dragging down my shirt and I started begging him. I begged him till I had nothing else I may plead with. I begged him intensely for mercy and even informed him that I used to be menstruating.
“It was as if all my pleas fail on deaf ears, I needed to insert my hand into my vagina simply to indicate him. The blood I confirmed him prevented him from raping me. It was a horrible expertise.
“He, thereafter, requested whether or not Mr. Jude was the proprietor of the corporate. And I replied that we have been simply clearing brokers. Additionally they seized our cell phones, jewelry and cash.
“They blindfolded Mr. Jude, introduced him again into the automotive, requested me to face down with my eyes closed, after which drove off to a different location. They spoke Igbo virtually on a regular basis so I may barely perceive what they have been saying or taking us to.
“Whereas driving off to the opposite location, they requested if I may drive, I stated no. So that they dropped down from the automotive and took Mr Jude with them. They ordered me to face down and never have a look at their faces or I can be shot lifeless. They deserted me and the Honda pilot automotive at 2nd bridge alongside expressway, the place I waited till I noticed a police patrol and flagged them.
Additionally testifying, Jude stated his abductors initially ordered him to pay N10m for his launch however after negotiations, they collected N5m.
After listening to them, the trial decide, Justice Taiwo convicted and sentenced Ukoh and Obasi to five, 15 and 21 years for conspiracy, kidnapping and armed theft respectively, whereas the opposite three have been discharged and acquitted by court docket.
The decide held that the prosecution couldn’t show that these acquitted Igbani, Osuagwu and Ngozi have been linked to the alleged expenses of homicide, conspiracy, kidnapping and armed theft.
