Court Remands Six For Kidnapping

A Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court has remanded six accused  persons in prison custody for allegedly kidnapping a four year old girl.

The accused persons, Joseph Nderia, 29, Sorndamene, 23, Kenneth Okoro, 25, Uchenna Princewill, 26, Eme Chukwu and Abigail Dickson 24, are standing trial on four court charge on Felony to wit: kidnapping, possession of dangerous weapons, extortion and other  criminal offences before Chief Magistrate I.F. Iyiabo.

The prosecuting police officer, Inspector Wilson Isaiah told the court that the accused persons and others now at large on the 8th of  January, 2013 at No.7 Chukwu Olunda Street, Rumukalagbor, Port Harcourt in the Port Harcourt magistrate district did conspire among themselves  to commit felony to  wit: kidnapping. The police prosecutor also alleged that the accused  persons  on the same date and place armed with Ak 47 rifles and other dangerous weapons and with  intent to demand  ransom, did kidnap one  Osaruchi Geraldine Chukwu (female) aged four year and unlawfully imprisoned her in such a manner  that prevented  her relations to have  access to her for discovering the place where she was imprisoned.

The police prosecutor  further alleged that  the accused persons and others at large on the  same date and pace with the intent to  extort did demand the sum of sixty million naira (N60m) and received 10 million from one Chukwu Crownwell, father of Osaruchi Geradine Chukwu while she was in  their  custody with a threat  not to release her if their demand was not complied  with.

The police prosecuting officer also told the court  that the accused persons and others now at large while armed with Ak 47 rifles  and other dangerous weapons  did rob on Chukwu Cromnwill of one Black Berry GSM phone valued at  seventy-eight thousand  naira (N78,000)  only, adding that the accused persons committed an offence punishable under section 516A, 406 of the criminal code, cap 37, vol II laws of Rivers State 1999, section 1 (2) b of the Rivers State Kidnap (Prohibition) laws No. 3 of 2009 as well as, section 1 (2) (a) (b) of the Robbery and Firearms Special  Act Cap. 398, laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

The accused persons however did not take any plea on the charges brought against them.

Ruling on the matter, the presiding chief  magistrate, I.F. Iyiabo remanded the accused in prison custody for lack of jurisdiction and directed the court registrar to forward the original case file to the DPP for legal advice on the matter.

The case was adjourned to March 28, 2013 for DPP’s advice.