Five In Custody Over Kidnapping

Officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), bidding farewell to the former Commandant-General of NSCDC, Dr Ade Abolurin, during his home-coming in Lagos recently

A Port Harcourt Chief
Magistrate Court presided over by I.O. Agbesor, has remanded five accused persons into prison custody for alleged kidnap and armed robbery offences.
The accused persons remanded are Abraham Irimiya (20), John Umoren (25) Ubok-Utom Jackson (46), Francis Akpan (32) and Abah Andrew, (24).
The accused persons are standing trial on four court charges bordering on kidnapping, armed robbery, stealing and conspiracy with charge sheet number PMC/579 C/15 before Chief Magistrate I.O Agb3esor of court 5.
The prosecuting police officer, Sgt Aaron Nsiran told the court that the accused persons on the 17th of July, 2015 at Nwobilor Street, Elecohani, Rumuodara Farm Road in Port Harcourt Magisterial District did conspire among themselves to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and armed robbery.
The prosecuting officer also informed the court that the accused persons and others now at large on the same date and place in the afore said magisterial district, were armed with AK 47 rifle and other dangerous weapons and with intent to demand ransom did kidnapp one Nkasiobi Raymond (f) and unlawfully imprisoned her in such a manner  as to prevent her relations or any person entitled to have access to her from discovering the place where she was imprisoned.
The prosecution further told the court that the accused and others at large on the same date and place within the jurisdiction of the court received the sum of N1million from the husband of the victims (Raymond Ogbonaya) while she was in their custody, with threat of not releasing her until their demands were met adding that the accused armed with gun and other dangerous weapons did rob one Venza car valued at N240,000 as well as other valuable house hold items valed at N7.2 million.
He averred that the accused persons committed an offence punishable under section 576(1), 406 of the criminal code cap 37 Vol.11, law of Rivers State 1999, section 1(2) A of the Rivers State kidnap prohibition law No.3 of 2009 and section 1 (1) (2)(a) (b) of robbery and Firearms (special provision) Act, cap R11 laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
The police prosecutor opposed the bail application of the accused persons on the ground that the court lacks the jurisdiction to grant them bail due to the gravity of their charges.
Ruling on the matter, the presiding chief magistrate court 5, I.O. Agbesor declined jurisdiction and ordered the accused be remanded in  prison custody.