Eight kidnap suspects remanded in prison till Oct. 30

• Face six-count charge at Magistrate Court in Rivers

By AKANNI HAMDALAT OPEYEMI

A Magistrates’ Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, played host to eight suspected kidnappers who were arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) amidst tight security.

National daily gathered that the kidnap suspects are facing prosecution on six-count charges relating to kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms.

The accused persons were identified as Promise Jim, Elizabeth Chukwu, Destiny Wosu, Kingsley Chukwu, Uchendu Elindam, Godknows Wokem, Obinna Chukwu and Henry Elebiga.

The kidnap suspects have been terrorising several parts of the state, abducting residents of the state, one of whom include a consultant with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Dr. Alexander Akani.

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The DSS, in one of the charges, alleged that the defendants “on or about the 28th of June 2017 on Aluu Road, Rumuekini within the jurisdiction of this court, did conspire to commit felony, to wit: kidnap Dr. Alexander Akani, a consultant at the University of Port Harcourt, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 516 Criminal Code laws of Rivers State 1999.”

The prosecutor said the defendants were found in unlawful possession of one AK–47 rifle, HP 9756, one pump-action gun, one dane gun containing six rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition, 14 live cartridges and two empty cartridges of 32 GAA, contrary to sections 1, 2 and 3 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2013.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, F.M. Amanze, said the case file would be referred to the state’s Director of Public Prosecution for possible transfer but ordered that the suspects should be remanded in the prison custody and adjourned the case till October 30, 2017.