Kidnap kingpin, gang members charged

Nigeria’s State Security Service, SSS, on Tuesday arraigned suspected kidnap kingpin, Mr. Kelvin Eziegbe, and two others, Frank Azuekoh and Haruna Momoh, before an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court for allegedly masterminding series of highly coordinated kidnapping activities in the entire South-South region and the FCT.

A First Information Report filed by the police indicate that between February 2, 2012 and September 24, 2013 at Kokori, Asaba, Warri, Port Harcourt and Benin City, in Delta, Rivers and Edo states respectively and along Benin-Abuja road, Abuja FCT, Kelvin Eziegbe,also known as Kelvin Oniara, Frank Azuekoh and Haruna Momoh conspired with Rufus Ovwigho, Ese Oghenerojakor and others now at large to kidnap for ransom the persons of Mike Ozekhome (SAN) Chudi Nwike (Dr), Hope Eghagha (Prof) and many others.

According to the FIR, the accused persons ambushed and attacked a Federal Prisons vehicle conveying some members of their criminal gang which resulted in the death of some Police and Prisons officers.

“That you further conspired to unlawfully import prohibited firearms from Libya for the purpose of kidnapping, robbery and related criminal activities and you thereby committed the offence of (1) criminal intimidation punishable under Section 397 penal code, (2) kidnapping punishable under Section 274 penal code, (3) robbery punishable under Section 298 penal code, and (4) criminal conspiracy to commit felony punishable under Section 97 penal code” part of the FIR reads.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Upon their plea, the SSS informed the court that they still require more time in investigating the heinous activities of the alleged notorious kidnappers and urged the court to grant the agency more time to conclude further investigations of other kidnapping incidents perpetrated by the suspects.

“My Lordship, because of the nature of the case and the need to conduct a thorough investigation into the activities of the suspects with a view to unearthing those sponsoring them, it is imperative we plead for time to enable us conclude investigation and come out to prove our case” Mr. Cliff Osagie, the SSS lawyer told the court.

He also applied that the accused gangsters be remanded in the custody of the SSS pending conclusion of investigation.

Mr. J.O Eguere, who announced appearance for the three accused persons, told the court presided over by Magistrate Usman Shuaibu that he would come formally to apply for the bail application of the suspected kidnappers and opposed the application that the suspects be remanded in SSS custody. In the alternative, he urged the court to remand his clients either in Kuje, Suleja or Keffi prisons.

Osagie kicked against this and told the court that though he would not like to join issues with the defence over his “claimed brief”, he hinted that Mr. Eguere has never seen any of the accused persons before today and wondered when they briefed him to handle the matter. He however indicated that he does not have any problem if he wants to handle the case free of charge; pro bono.

“I do not have any problem with that, neither do I have any problem with granting the suspects access to lawyers of their choice”, he added.

Osagie however insisted that the accused persons should be kept in the custody of the SSS since investigation is ongoing, adding that when the agency is ready for their trial, they can be put under prison custody.

In his ruling, Magistrate Usman Ahmed Shuaibu noted that in the interest of justice, time should be given to the SSS to allow then conclude investigation and ordered that the three accused kidnappers be remanded in the detention facility of the SSS.

—-Nnamdi Felix/Abuja