‘Kidnappers of Anglican bishop collected N10m ransom’
Three men suspected to have been involved in the kidnap of the Anglican Arch Bishop in the Niger Delta region, Ignatius Kattey and his wife last year have been arraigned before a Port Harcourt Magistrate’s Court by the state Director of State Security Service (DSS) Aboki Nyan.
The suspects, Chibueze Nwaogba, Onyedikachi Emmanuel Okoro and Philip Chikaodiri Ogbuewu, on September 6, 2013, allegedly kidnapped Bishop Kattey and his wife, Beatrice, at Aleto Bridge, Eleme, in Eleme Local Government Area of the state. The three are also suspected of being behind series of kidnappings in the state.
Nyan said the accused persons collected the sum of N10 million as ransom before releasing the archbishop.
The suspects, who are facing a 17-count charge, were also said to have abducted one Ukel Jerome Agba on Febraury 13, 2013, at Pipeline in Aleto, Eleme.
It was gathered that N5 million was collected by the accused persons before Ukel regained freedom.
In the same vein, the three men on February 15, last year, allegedly kidnapped one Mrs. Anna Agba, also at Pipeline. The suspects were said to have collected a ransom of N3 million for her release.
On December 12, 2012, the gang was said to have also kidnapped one Dr. Lasisi Adebukola at Ebube in Eleme, and collected N1 million for his release.
However, no plea was taken, as the Chief Magistrate, I. Agbesor, ordered that they should be remanded in prison custody because the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.
He directed that their case file should be referred to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice. The case has been adjourned till September 1, 2014.