KIDNAPPERS SENTENCED TO 180 YEARS IMPRISONMENT

Justice Ogisi of Delta State High Court has sentenced four men to forty -five years’ imprisonment   each for kidnapping and robbing the father of the former Secretary to the Delta State Government (SSG), Chief Pa Arthur Okowa. This makes a combined total of 180 years

Pa Okowa, who is also the father of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, was kidnapped in 2009 at his residence at Efeizomor Street, Boji Owa, as he was making to attend church service within the Metropolis.

He   regained freedom after spending three weeks in captivity.

The presiding judge, Justice C.O Ogisi  is his judgment Friday  at the High Court of justice sitting  in Owa-Oyibu, in Ika North East local government area,  said each of the accused persons are  convicted  and sentenced  to thirty-five years  each on counts 1 and 2  and  ten years imprisonment  on counts 3 and   4.

The sentence is to run concurrently. He said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt that the accused persons committed the crime.

Justice Ogisi said further that the court became convinced that the accused   persons committed the crime following their confessional statements which linked them to the crime for which they were charged.

The accused persons; Fresher  Aiworo, Victor  Ajulor, Bright Onyemani and George Ogala, all male  were charged with the offence of committing armed robbery, punishable under section 1(2)(a) of the robbery and firearms (special provision) Act  and  Kidnapping , punishable  under section 516(A)(1)  of the criminal code  of the laws of the Federation.