The Ogbia Division of the Bayelsa High Court on Thursday sentenced four men to 40 years imprisonment each for the kidnap of the former commissioner for trade and investment, Federal Otokito.
The convicts are Kingsley Obhesi, 24, Joshua Abi, 32, Gift Damene, 38, and Powell Inegite, 36.
Justice S.W. Amaduobogha convicted them on counts of conspiracy, kidnap and unlawful possession of firearms.
The judge held that the prosecution had proven the case of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms beyond reasonable doubt.
Mr Amaduobogha consequently sentenced each of them to 40 years imprisonment.
The convicts were arrested by operatives of the Operation Puff Adder unit of the police command in Bayelsa led by Supol Chris Nwaogbo.
The prosecuting counsel, Stella Jerry-Friday, told the court that the convicts on January 20, 2022, at Otuokpoti in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa kidnapped Otokito against his will.
“The captive was taken to Igbomotoru bush in the southern Ijaw area of the state with the intent to demand ransom or any other unlawful consideration and thereby committed an offence,” Mr Jerry-Friday said.
