Four Jailed 180 Years for Kidnapping Ex-Delta SSG’s Father

A  Delta State High Court has sentenced four youths to forty -five years imprisonment   each for kidnapping and robbing   the father   of the former Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Chief Pa Arthur Okowa.

Pa  Okowa, father of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa was kidnapped  in 2009 in his residence  at  Efeizomor street, Boji Boji Owa,  as he was preparing to attend   a church service within the Metropolis, but  regained freedom  after three weeks  in the captivity of his abductors.

The presiding judge, Justice C.O Ogisi while handing dawn the judgment yesterday  at the High Court of justice sitting  in Owa-Oyibu, in Ika North East local government area,  said each of the accused persons are  convicted  and sentenced  to thirty-five years  each on counts 1 and 2  and  ten years imprisonment  on counts 3 and   4.

Justice Ogisi also said that the sentence is to run concurrently as the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt that the accused persons committed the crime.

Justice Ogisi in the judgment that lasted for about one hour further stated that the court became convinced that the accused   persons committed the offence following their confessional statement   that linked them to the offence for which they were charge.

The accused persons; Fresher  Aiworo, Victor  Ajulor, Bright Onyemani and George Ogala, all male, according to the charge  sheet,   were charged with offence of committing armed robbery, punishable under section 1(2)(a) of the robbery and firearms (special provision) Act  and  Kidnapping , punishable  under section 516(A)(1)  of the criminal code  of the laws of the Federation.

Source: Thisday