A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Ogbia local government area has sentenced the four men who kidnapped the former commissioner for trade and investment in Bayelsa State, Hon. Federal Otokito Oparmiola, to 40 years each in prison.
Oparmiola was abducted from his residence in Otuokpoti, Ogbia LGA of the state.
The gunmen were reported to have invaded the neighbourhood, shooting randomly into the air to frighten the locals before whisking the former commissioner away.
The court, headed by Justice S.W. Amaduobogha, while delivering judgement in suit numbered OHC/4c/2022, declared that Kingsley Obhesi (24yrs), Joshua Abi (32yrs), Gift Damene (38 years) and Powell Inegite (36yrs) are guilty as charged on conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.
The convicted persons were arrested by operatives of „Operation Puff Adder“ led by Chris Nwaogbo and believed to be boys working with a prominent ex-militant leader from the Southern Ijaw local government area of the state.
The police prosecuting counsel, Stella Jerry-Friday, while briefing the court, stated that „the convicts on the 20th day of January 2022 at the Otuokpoti in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa and armed with sophisticated guns and offensive weapons, unlawfully took away Otokito, against his will to Igbomotoru bush in Southern Ijaw area of the state with the intent to demand ransom or any other unlawful consideration and thereby committed an offence“.
Justice S.W. Amaduobogha, after hearing from the police prosecution and defence counsels, declared that the investigative and prosecution teams had done due diligence and proved beyond reasonable doubt the case of conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms against the convicts.
Some members of the Otuokpoti community, where the former commissioner hails from in Ogbia LGA, commended the Bayelsa Police Command, particularly the operatives of „Operation Puff Adder“ led by Supol Chris Nwaogbo, for their diligent investigation and prosecution.
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