Month: October 2023

Court sentences 2 men for kidnapping Mike Ozekhome to 20 years imprisonment each

Abuja: A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Friday, convicted and sentenced two of the four defendants alleged to have kidnapped Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to a 20-year-jail term each.

Justice Binta Nyako, in a judgment, held that the prosecution had been able to establish the counts preferred against Kelvin Ezeigbe and Frank Azuekor, who were 1st and 2nd defendants, beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Nyako held that the sentence would run from the day of their arrest.

The judge, however, discharged and acquitted
Michael Omonigho and Momoh Haruna, who were 3rd and 4th defendants, of the counts levelled against them in the terrorism charge.

She held that though some of the counts against Ezeigbe and Azuekor attracted punishment ranging from death sentence, life inprisonment to at least 10 years jail term, she said she had found that the accused had been been remorseful of their criminal act.

She said she also found that they had been in custody for about 10 year from the day of their arrest.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Omonigho, who was said to be the chief priest was in court, Haruna was not.

When Nyako warned Omonigho to be careful as people worship in his shrine in the open court, the chief priest responded thus: “I have repented my lord.”

The judge, however, directed that Haruna, who was at large, should be brought to court to face the sin of his escape from lawful custody, even though he was discharged of the counts against him.

They judge commended the defence lawyer, Bala Dakum, and the prosecution counsel, Chioma Onuegbu, for their industrious input in the course of the trial.

NAN reports that the defendants; Kelvin Ezeigbe, Frank Azuekor, Michael Omonigho and Momoh Haruna were first arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a FHC, on June 9, 2014, on a 13-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and acts of terrorism.

While the three defendants were in court, Haruna was said to be missing after the attack on Kuje Correctional Centre by terrorists on July 5, 2022.
They were accused of committing acts of terrorism, contrary to Sections 1, 8 and 10 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.

They were alleged to have, on Aug. 23, 2013, kidnapped Mr. Ozekhome at Iruekpen on his way to Iviukwe in Agenebode, Edo.
Ozekhome was held in captivity for about three weeks before his release allegedly following the payment of N28 million ransom.

They were also accused of kidnapping Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof Hope Eghagha; Attanasius Ugbme and his friend, Emmanuel Maka Omorogbe, and killing five policemen and two prison officials.

The defendants were also alleged to have compelled Eghagha to pay N7 million, Ugbome paid N20 million and Omorogbe paid N3.5 million.

The five police officers allegedly killed were Paul Ajaka, Sunday Ewanshiha, Michael Akpada, Bakary Ekong and Innocent Odoh.
They also allegedly killed Lawrence Edora and Oyibo Okoye who were prison officers and made away with their service rifles.

The four suspects were refused bail filed on their behalf by their lawyer, Bala Dakum.
While Ezeigbe and Azuekor had been held at the facility of the Department of State Service (DSS), Omonigho and Haruna were held at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng) / Flowerbudnews

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Details later

October 6, 2023
Expulsion of Section 233 (3) from Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as ammended); a Limitation on the Appellate Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

By Jamiu Agoro

Abuja: (Flowerbudnews): On the 29th day of November, 2010, by an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, some of the Section of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (The Constitution) were amended.

Of importance to this article is the amendment to Section 233 of the Constitution Pre-Second Alteration.

Prior to the second Alteration of the Constitution, Section 233 provides for the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Section 233 of the Constitution provides for appeals that come to the Supreme Court as of right and those that could only be brought with the leave of court first sought and obtained.

For ease of reference and clarity, Section 233 (2) of the Constitution prior to the Alteration provides that;

“(2) An appeal shall lie form decisions of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court as of right in the following cases

(a) where the ground of appeal involves questions of law alone, decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings before the Court of Appeal;

(b) decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to the interpretation or application of this constitution,

(c) decisions in any civil or criminal proceedings on questions as to whether any of the provisions of Chapter IV of this Constitution has been, is being or is likely to be, contravened in relation to any person;

(d) decisions in any criminal proceedings in which any person has been sentenced to death by the Court of Appeal or in which the Court of Appeal has affirmed a sentence of death imposed by any other court;

(e) decisions on any question –
(i) whether any person has been validly elected to the office of President or Vice-President under this Constitution,

(ii) whether the term of office of office of President or Vice President has ceased,
(iii) whether the office of President or Vice-President has become vacant; and
(c) such other cases as may be an Act of the National Assembly.”

Whilst the foregoing clearly provides for appeals from the decision of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court as of right, Section 233 (3) specifically provides for appeals that could only be entertained by the Supreme Court with leave of the court first sought and obtained before presentation of such appeals.;

”(3) Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, an appeal shall lie from the decisions of the Court of Appeal to the Supreme Court with the leave of the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court.”

A calm perusal of the foregoing would undoubtedly reveal that the Supreme Court is imbued with the jurisdiction to entertain appeals from the decision of the Court of Appeal.
.
It is also not in doubt that Section 233 (2) as reproduced afore gives (vests) an aggrieved party with the latitude to as of right approach the Supreme Court for review of the decision of the Court of Appeal.

Furthermore, Section 233 (3) gives a party whose appeal does not fall within the categories listed in Section 233 (2) the privilege to also approach the Supreme Court albeit with leave for review of the decision of the Court of Appeal.

One of such appeals not covered by section 233 (2) are appeals on grounds of mixed law and fact. Appeals of this nature get to the Supreme Court only with leave of court.
Implication of the Second Alteration:

As earlier stated, on the 29th of November, 2010, an Act to alter the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 was passed.

By the said alteration, Section 233(3) of the Constitution which vested the Supreme Court with the jurisdiction to entertain appeals otherwise than those listed in Section 233 (2) albeit with leave of court was completely expunged from the Constitution.

The point being made is that by the alteration, the section of the constitution that empowers Supreme court to hear and determine appeals with leave have been deleted.

Courts generally are established by laws and it is the enabling law that structures the jurisdiction of each courts. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended creates Courts in Nigeria and also structures their jurisdictional coverage.

It is only within the created jurisdictional precinct can a court act. See Akujinwa v Nwaonuma (1998) LPELR-391(SC); Adelekan v Ecu-Line NV (2006) LPELR-113(SC); Nwaigwe v Okere (2008) LPELR-2095(SC).

“The Court cannot exercise jurisdiction to hear appeal unless such jurisdiction is conferred by the Constitution or by some enabling statute.”

That said, the expulsion of Section 233(3) of the Constitution which section formed part of the appellate jurisdictional sphere of the Supreme Court, is without doubt a restriction/limitation on its appellate jurisdiction.

The apparent implication of this is that the Supreme Court can only entertain appeals as of right i.e appeals expressly outlined in section 233 (2).

It is thus safe to conclude that an appeal which does not fall within the specifics listed in Section 233(2) cannot be entertained by the Supreme Court as the Court would have no Constitutional backing to so do.

Although the Supreme Court haven’t had the opportunity to pronounce on this point so as to finally lay it to rest.

However, in the case of Shittu vs P.A.N Ltd (2018)15 NWLR (Pt. 1642) 195, the Supreme Court per Rhodes Vivour JSC had a shot on this. It is however necessary to state that the issue of whether the Supreme Court can entertain an appeal of mixed law and fact with leave of Court i.e appeals not listed in Section 233(2) of the Constitution, was not a live issue in the cited case.

The Learned Law Lord only took a swipe; obiter dictum where it was posited thus;
“… I must observe that there is now in existence the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered by the First, Second and Third Alterations Act, 2010.

By the alterations, there is no longer section 233(3) of 1999 Constitution which allowed leave to appeal to the Supreme Court. That is to say, by virtue of section 233(1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered), the Supreme Court can only hear appeal where the grounds involves questions of law.

The apex Court no longer has jurisdiction to hear appeal where grounds of appeal involve questions of mixed law and facts. Appeals on grounds of mixed law and facts ends in Court of Appeal.’’

Going by the above excerpt from the decision in Shittu vs P.A.N Ltd (2018)15 NWLR (Pt. 1642) 195;, it is evident that the Supreme Court is no longer clothed with the jurisdiction to entertain appeals of mixed law and fact or any other appeals with leave of court.

Such appeal terminates at the Court of Appeal. Of course one can argue that this decision (the excerpt) not being a ratio decidendi in the said case, is not of binding effect.

That much I concede. However, on the premise of the earlier submission that Courts only acts on the powers and jurisdiction confers on it by its enabling law, can the Supreme Court whose jurisdiction to entertain appeals of mixed law and fact has been taken away by the amendment, still entertain appeals not within its jurisdictional purview?

I am afraid No. To do so would be to act without a Constitutional support.

In concluding this piece, it is important to mention and acknowledge the fact that despite the deletion of the subject section by the second alteration and despite the stance maintained by the Law lord (though obiter) in Shittu vs P.A.N Ltd (supra), the Apex court still entertains, hears and determines appeals on grounds of mixed law and fact.

The Court has however not had the opportunity to specifically address and pronounce on its constitutional and/or statutory competence to hear and determine appeals of this nature.
Appeals on grounds of mixed law and fact have no business on the docket of the Supreme court. Same ought to terminate at the Court of Appeal.

However, it is safe to conclude that the expulsion of Section 233(3) from the Constitution by the second alteration though a clear limitation of the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme court, operates in theory alone for now as the Court still entertains appeals otherwise than as of right. (Flowerbudnews)

Jamiu Agoro, MCIArb., is an Associate Partner at Pinheiro LP,

October 6, 2023
Kogi Guber: 21 LG Chairmen Of Labour Party Defect To APC

Say defection in interest of the state

All the 21 Local Government Chairmen of the Labour Party in Kogi State have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress.

They chairmen said they collapsed their structure in order to support the APC governorship candidate, Usman Ododo, in the November 11, 2023 election.

At the official decamping ceremony on Thursday in Lokoja, the defectors said LP was no longer viable in the state.

They further anchored their reason for abandoning their party for APC on the conviction that the APC candidate, Usman Ododo, had shown that “he is a unifier whose nationalist qualities are needed to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Yahaya Bello.”

Leading the chairmen, scores of their supporters and other members of Labour Party in the state to APC at the defection ceremony, Kogi Coordinator of the Obidient Movement, Awe Kayode, said the Labour Party structure in the state was a formidable one that delivered massive votes to the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi without inducement or support.

He stresses that their decision to collapse the LP structure into the APC was to join forces with the Progressives to actualise the ‘Kogi Agenda’ which seeks to further unite the people and ensure even development across board.

Kayode said, “I was in APC before I left to join the Labour Party. I am back today with more people and we are ready to add value. LP got over 76,000 votes in the last presidential election, we still have the same people that worked to achieve that feat.

“Kogi State belongs to all of us and we have decided to jettison ethnic or religious agenda to support the candidate of APC who promotes the Kogi Agenda.”

In his submission, the LP Chairman of Bassa Local Government Area, who doubles as Chairman of LP Chairmen Forum, Jimba Emmanuel, noted that political party was just a platform to power and that good governance was not about the party “but individuals who are passionate about development and attracting dividends of democracy to the people.”

He maintained that the governorship candidate of the Labour Party lacked the required quality, hence their decision to abandon what he described as a “sinking ship”.

The Forum chairman promised that his colleagues had agreed to mobilise all their structures across the 21 local government areas to deliver massive votes for the APC candidate.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Wemi Jones, commended the leader of the Obidient Movement in Kogi State, Awe Kayode, for his doggedness and mobilization ability.

He said the crowd seen at the decamping event was a testimony of the genuineness of their decision to join the Progressives.

Jones urged the defectors to join forces in canvassing and mobilizing for the victory of the APC governorship candidate to ensure sustainability and consolidation of the gains made by the Yahaya Bello administration.

Receiving the new members, the Kogi State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Bello, said “APC is a party that believes in development, equality and has a good reward system”, adding that the new members would enjoy all the privileges as other members of the party.

He said members of the Obedient family were passionate and reasonable as they could distinguish between right and wrong, adding that their decision to join the APC showes that they appreciated the developmental efforts of Governor Yahaya Bello and his unwavering commitment to the unity, security and wellbeing of the people of Kogi State.

According to him, aside from the character and leadership qualities of Usman Ododo, being a critical member of the New Direction Administration had further equipped him with the needed knowledge and experience to lead the state and consolidate on the achievements of Governor Bello.

Bello urged members of the APC to disregard noise makers in opposition parties and go all out to ensure massive victory for the APC candidate, adding that as far as the November election was concerned, the APC has no rival.

October 6, 2023
MURIC lauds Kano Govt for banning some textbooks in schools

By Henry Oladele

Lagos: The Muslim Rights Concern(MIRIC) has commended the Kano State Government for prohibiting some textbooks in nursery, primary and secondary schools due to harmful and sexually explicit contents.

MURIC Chairman in Kano, Mr Hassan Indabawa, in a statement said the move by the government to remove some lewd and pernicious teaching materials from the curriculum of basic schools was commendable.

He said the decision of the Kano government, under the leadership of Gov. Abba Yusuf came at the right time.

“Therefore, all parents, educationists, learners and advocates must embrace and support the initiative so as to tame the alarming rise of immorality amongst the youths in the state,” he said.

Indabawa further said that MIRIC was one of the front line advocates for the removal of all obscene teaching aids from the nation’s educational system.

“MURIC rejoice and commend the government of Kano for doing the needful by prohibiting the use of some selected teaching materials found to contain sexually explicit contents.

“Nigerians are aware that in the last twenty years, classical English literature books and novels such as Macbeth, Merchant of Venice, Things Fall Apart among others, have been removed from our school curricula.

“They have been replaced with sex-related local english literature and other science books containing lewd and pernicious matters to give the unsuspecting young school pupils the wrong impression that self-control is unnecessary.

“As we may equally be aware, one of the negative consequences of this is the sexualisation of primary and secondary school pupils,” he said.

He added that the prohibition of the use of these offensive text books must be backed by appropriate legislation to provide legal framework for sanctioning any erring school authority for effective implementation of the government’s directive.

“The Office of the Special Advisor on Private and Voluntary Institutions and Kano Educational Resource Department (KERD) must be well-equipped to ensure strict compliance.

“We also call on other state governments to emulate Kano State by reviewing and removing all lewd and pernicious teaching materials from their various basic education curriculum,” he said.

NAN reports that the Kano government on Thursday, said it has banned the use of some textbooks across nursery, primary and secondary schools in the state, due to harmful and sexually explicit contents.

This is contained in a statement issued by Malam Hamisu Ibrahim, the director of planning Research and Statistics office of the Special Adviser on Private and Voluntary Institutions in Kano.

“The Kano state government wishes to notify operators of both private and voluntary schools in the state that the under-listed books are prohibited for instruction use in our Nursery, Primary and Secondary Schools due to observed inclusion of inappropriate and sexually explicit content that is harmful to the morale of young students” the government said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)/ Flowerbudnews

October 6, 2023
Mr Simon Lalong, Minister of Labour and Employment

By Joan Nwagwu

The Federal Government has assured the International Labour Organisation(ILO) that it would work closely with the body to enhance the welfare and well-being of workers.

Mr Simon Lalong, Minister of Labour and Employment gave the assurance when the ILO Country Director to Nigeria visited the Minister in his office on Friday in Abuja.

Lalong said that closer collaboration would as well promote the dignity of Labour in line with all Conventions as it is signatory to.

He therefore, commended the support and collaboration of the ILO over the years.

According to him, this is particularly in the areas of capacity-building and partnerships that have made the work environment for Nigerians productive and engaging.

“Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the ministry of Labour and Employment is very much ready to take the relationship with the ILO to a higher level,” he said.

He however, assured the ILO Country Director that Nigeria would continue to work on the implementation of all the protocols it has ratified.

Lalong added that this is as a way of building confidence within the country and on the international level.

Earlier, Ms Vanessa Phala the ILO Country Director to Nigeria said the visit was to congratulate the minister and the Minister of State on their appointments.

“We want to assure you of our readiness of the Organisation for more collaboration with the Federal Government.

She said the ILO would stay steadfast in ensuring that Nigeria attained the National Employment Policy, effectively deal with the matters of child and forced labour, as well as other issues.

The Country Director also commended Nigeria for being up to date in its reporting system which is noteworthy.

Phala urged the minister to pursue the priorities of job creation, enterprise development, social protection and the establishment of the National Labour Advisory Council.

He added that this would enhance dialogue and minimise industrial disputes through proactive measures.

NAN

October 6, 2023
The Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu

By Ibrahim G. Ahmad

The Federal Government has expressed concern over the recent abduction of 25 students of the Federal University Gusau.

The Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, passed the message during a two-day official working visit to commiserate with the state government and the university community.

The minister’s visit was also to allocate 40 houses to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

She promised collaborative efforts with the state government to rescue the students and others still in captivity.

Edu said President Bola Tinubu had already given marching orders to security agencies to ensure safe rescue of the remaining people under captivity.

She said her visit to Zamfara was long overdue considering the magnitude of humanitarian crisis that made the state to be a flash point of the ministry.

In addition to sympathy visit, the ministry was in the state to revalidate social data of the vulnerable communities and to hand over 40 houses to IDPs

While addressing the university community, the minister gave the president’s assurance that those students would be back and continue with their studies.

Edu maintained that security and education were the top priorities of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, and that what made him to introduce students loan and other scholarships was to encourage more enrollment into university and other tertiary institutions.

The minister equally handed over the 40 units of houses to Gov. Dauda Lawan for onward distribution to IDPs in the state, as part of FG’s efforts to address humanitarian issues.

Gov. Lawan thanked the minister for the visit and the determination of the ministry to collaborate with the state in tackling humanitarian crisis affecting citizens.

The governor described city constructed under the Renewed Hope Programme as a critical intervention in addressing humanitarian challenges of the state.

He called on the minister to consider construction of two additional cities in Zamfara North and West senatorial districts.

The Vice Chancellor of the FUGUS, Prof. Muazu Abubakar, said the university management was doing all within its ability to encourage students not to be distracted by the ugly incident.

He thanked the minister for the visit and appealed for more security intervention to the university.

NAN

October 6, 2023
Nobel Prize: Why Nigerian scholars were not nominated

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU) has said that Nigerian scholars `especially from the intellectual community’ were not nominated for the 2023 Nobel Prize because of poor research funding.

The Secretary-General of the committee, Prof. Yakubu Ochefu was reacting to the recent announcement of the 2023 Nobel Prize winners.

He spoke at a news conference to herald the commemoration of 60th anniversary of the committee in Abuja on Friday.

Ochefu explained that for Nigerians to feature in the Nobel prize nominations, there must be major breakthrough in cutting-edge research.

“This comes back to the work that the CVCNU has been doing over the years which is to improve the funding of university system.

“To win a Nobel prize is a product of sustained and rigorous research in the academic discipline, it is not a one-off things.

“It looks surprised that the average age for a Nobel prize winner is from 50 years, it means that the person would have been doing research for at least 10 years to make a major breakthrough in his area of specialisation .

“We do not have enough funding for research in this country, there is a correlation between the quantum of resources available for research and the development of every country.

“And the benchmark is at least one per cent of your Gross Domestic Product (GDP) should be set aside for research and innovation, we are not even doing 0.1 per cent,” he said.

Ochefu also added that absence of facilities to do the cutting-edge research over a sustained period of time to compete with researchers from other parts of the world was a major challenge.

The Nobel Prize is an international prize awarded annually since 1901 for achievements in physics , Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine , Literature and Peace.

Nobel Prizes have been awarded to over 800 individuals since inception.

Norwegian author Jon Fosse is the winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize in Literature for his “innovative plays and prose which give voice to the unsayable.

Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian, became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986.

NAN

October 6, 2023
Kebbi Govt. shares N5.7bn palliative to 550,000 families

By Ibrahim Bello

The Kebbi Government, on Friday distributed palliatives worth N5.7 billion to 550,000 vulnerable families in the state.

Gov. Nasir Idris inaugurated the distribution of the palliative in Maiyama.

He said 210 trucks of grains would be shared to the families to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal and provide them with sustainable means of livelihood.

“The distribution of these palliatives beginning from today, will continue until every beneficiary receives their allocation.

“Each of the 21 local government areas will receive 10 trucks consisting of rice, millet and maize; Kebbi state government expended over N5.7 billion to procure these grains,” the governor said.

He charged the committees set up in each local government area to be firm and resolute and ensure that only the most vulnerable people in every ward benefit from the gesture.

Idris disclosed that the state had enrolled into the 2023/2024 Federal Government Special Dry Season Programme, to provide solid, lasting and sustainable means of livelihood to the citizenry.

“Support will be provided for dry season crop production to create a circle of agricultural activities.

” Under the programme, farmers will be supported with subsidised inputs and solar irrigation pumps to cultivate rice, wheat, maize, and cassava in the dry season.

“I, therefore, call on all genuine farmers in the state to enrol into the programme to cultivate the crop of their choice so as to contribute to the food basket of the country,” the governor said.

According to him, the state government recently distributed 6,720 tons of free fertiliser worth N2.3 billion to farmers in the state, as part of overall efforts to enhance agricultural activities.

NAN

October 6, 2023
Court sentences 4 men for kidnapping Mike Ozekhome to 20 years imprisonment each

By Taiye Agbaje

A Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja, on Friday, convicted and sentenced two of the four defendants alleged to have kidnapped Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, to a 20-year-jail term each.

Justice Binta Nyako, in a judgment, held that the prosecution had been able to establish the counts preferred against Kelvin Ezeigbe and Frank Azuekor, who were 1st and 2nd defendants, beyond reasonable doubt.

Justice Nyako held that the sentence would run from the day of their arrest.

The judge, however, discharged and acquitted

Michael Omonigho and Momoh Haruna, who were 3rd and 4th defendants, of the counts levelled against them in the terrorism charge.

She held that though some of the counts against Ezeigbe and Azuekor attracted punishment ranging from death sentence, life inprisonment to at least 10 years jail term, she said she had found that the accused had been been remorseful of their criminal act.

She said she also found that they had been in custody for about 10 year from the day of their arrest.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that while Omonigho, who was said to be the chief priest was in court, Haruna was not.

When Nyako warned Omonigho to be careful as people worship in his shrine in the open court, the chief priest responded thus: “I have repented my lord.”

The judge, however, directed that Haruna, who was at large, should be brought to court to face the sin of his escape from lawful custody, even though he was discharged of the counts against him.

They judge commended the defence lawyer, Bala Dakum, and the prosecution counsel, Chioma Onuegbu, for their industrious input in the course of the trial.

NAN reports that the defendants; Kelvin Ezeigbe, Frank Azuekor, Michael Omonigho and Momoh Haruna were first arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Ademola of a FHC, on June 9, 2014, on a 13-count charge bordering on conspiracy, armed robbery, kidnapping and acts of terrorism.

While the three defendants were in court, Haruna was said to be missing after the attack on Kuje Correctional Centre by terrorists on July 5, 2022.

They were accused of committing acts of terrorism, contrary to Sections 1, 8 and 10 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.

They were alleged to have, on Aug. 23, 2013, kidnapped Mr. Ozekhome at Iruekpen on his way to Iviukwe in Agenebode, Edo.

Ozekhome was held in captivity for about three weeks before his release allegedly following the payment of N28 million ransom.

They were also accused of kidnapping Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof Hope Eghagha; Attanasius Ugbme and his friend, Emmanuel Maka Omorogbe, and killing five policemen and two prison officials.

The defendants were also alleged to have compelled Eghagha to pay N7 million, Ugbome paid N20 million and Omorogbe paid N3.5 million.

The five police officers allegedly killed were Paul Ajaka, Sunday Ewanshiha, Michael Akpada, Bakary Ekong and Innocent Odoh.

They also allegedly killed Lawrence Edora and Oyibo Okoye who were prison officers and made away with their service rifles.

The four suspects were refused bail filed on their behalf by their lawyer, Bala Dakum.

While Ezeigbe and Azuekor had been held at the facility of the Department of State Service (DSS), Omonigho and Haruna were held at Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja.

NAN

October 6, 2023