A High Court sitting in Warri has sentenced a Higher National Diploma (HND) student of the Department of Banking and Finance of the State Polytechnic, Oghara, Delta state, Mr. Collins Okoro and Ejemuta Adam Ogofure, a driver and native of Canan community of Bayelsa state to death by firing squad.
The presiding judge, Justice A.A. Onojovwo on Friday last week sentenced the dou to death by firing squad or hanging for kidnapping and armed robbery at Oleh, headquarters of Isoko South local government area and its environs.
The court however, discharged the 3rd accused person, a 24 -year old Jonny Oghenemairo of all charges for want of sufficient evidence but was sternly warned to desist from committing crime as he might not be lucky when arrested again.
The Judge after listening to the prosecuting counsel, said that Mr. Collins Okoro who hails from Ekieugbo, Ughelli North local government of the state and Mr. Ejemuta Adams Ogofure were guilty of the charges of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, kidnapping, attempted kidnap and demanding property with menace.
Justice Onojovwo who condemned the criminal acts of the two accused persons for their complexity in multiple armed robbery operations said they are to die for kidnapping one Mr. Ogboghro Vincent, a Polytechnic Don with the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, who was kidnapped by the criminal gang on the 7th of May, 2012 at Irri town, within the Oleh Judicial Division.
The judge also held that the accused robbed their victim of his Honda Accord (Baby Boy) car with registration No. AL 51 LEH, and even placed a ransom of N5m before he could be released
According to the trial Judge the prosecuting Counsel from the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Jereoma Sam-Oligida had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt the essential ingredients of the crime of conspiracy to kidnap one Mr. Ogboghro Vincent, and the attempted kidnap of one Mrs Precious Ibenegbu.
Justice Onojovwo also said that the prosecution was able to establish the case of the substantial offence of kidnapping and multiple armed robberies against the two accused out of the three accused persons arraigned before the court on a 10 -count charge.
Counsel to the State, Mrs. Jereoma Sam-Oligida through prosecuting witnesses had told the Court that after Mr. Ogboghro Vincent was kidnapped and robbed of his car and other valuables, he was whisked away to Trofani, Bayelsa State where he was unlawfully kept for days while a ransom of N5m was demanded from his family for his release.
The court was further told that a ransom of N700, 000 was paid after all to his captors before he regained freedom after 10 days in captivity.
According to the prosecution, the convicts with others now at large are members of a criminal gang terrorizing Oleh, Irri, Aviara and its environs but were arrested when they attempted to kidnap one Mrs. Precious Ibenegbu at Oleh as their vehicle got stuck in a muddy road which their victim harped on to raise an alarm.
The Judge held that the accused persons also robbed one Blessing Ese, a former Counselor of his Honda Accord car with registration no BP 134 GWA and other valuables on the 21, June, 2012 while armed with guns.
