Court sentences two to death for kidnapping
Court sentences two to death for kidnapping
An Abakaliki, Ebonyi State High Court has sentenced two persons, Onyemachi Oge and Okechukwu Oma, to death by hanging for kidnapping a medical doctor.
They abducted Dr. Chuka Manyike of Paediatrics Department, Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, on May 5, 2013 at his private hospital at 15, Owerri Street, Abakaliki.
The convicts were charged alongside Chukwuemeka Levi, Idris Oken, Edeke Desmond and Ijeoma Oge for conspiracy and kidnapping.
Manyike’s security guard was shot dead during the kidnapping for attempting to prevent the hoodlums from kidnapping the doctor.
The sum of N3 million was said to have paid as ransom before the doctor was released after six days in captivity.
According to the charge sheet, Oge and Oma got N200,000 from the ransom.
All the accused were in prison custody since their arrest after the incident.
Delivering judgment on the matter on Friday in Abakaliki, Justice Eze Udu said the prosecution had proved its case against Oge and Oma beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced them to death by hanging.
Anikwem discharged and acquitted Levi, Oken and Desmond, but ordered that Ijeoma and her husband, who is at large, should be charged for conspiracy and kidnapping “for allowing their house to be used in keeping the victim during the incident”.
Oma, a tailor opposite Manyinke’s hospital, provided information to the kidnappers and gave them directive on how to perfect the act, while Ijeoma Oge supplied beer, biscuits and water to the doctor during his days in captivity.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the 3rd, 4th and 5th accused, D.I. Njoku, said he would appeal the judgment against the 4th accused, who was sentenced to death.
