Man, 27, In Detention Over Kidnapping

A Port Harcourt Chief Magistrate Court presided over by E.C. Woke has remanded a twenty seven year old man, Chinatu Okwoma in prison custody for alleged kidnapping offences.

The accused person, Chinatu Okwoma, 27, and others now at large is standing trial on a three count charge of kidnapping, unlawful detention and extortion before E.C.Woke on charge No PMC 146X/2013.

The police prosecution told the court that the accused person and others at large on the 24

th day of May, 2013 at Rumuewhor Community Secondary School, Port Harcourt within the Port Harcourt Magisterial District did conspired among themselves to commit felony to wit kidnapping.

The prosecution also said that the accused persons and others now at large on the same date and place in the aforesaid magisterial district with the intent to demand ransom did kidnap one Okoroji Anthony (m) aged 29 years, a youth corps member and unlawfully imprisoned him in such a manner as to prevent his parents or any person entitled to have access to him from discovering his where abouts.

The prosecution further stated that the accused did demand with menaces the sum of two million Naira (N2,000.000.00) from Mrs Christiana Okoroji, Mother of Okoroji Anthony while he was in their custody with threat if not releasing her, if their demands were not complied with, adding that the accused person committed an offence punishable under section 516 A(1), 406 of the Criminal Code Cap 37 Vol. 11 Laws of Rivers State 1999 and section 1(2) (b) of the Rivers State Kidnap Prohibition Laws N03. of 2009.

In his ruling, the presiding chief magistrate E.C.Woke ordered that the accused person be remanded in prison custody, while the case  file be  forwarded to the office of the  Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)  for legal advice.