A High Court in Bayelsa State, located in Yenagoa, delivered a death sentence by hanging to four individuals on Wednesday, January 29, for their roles in conspiracy and kidnapping.
The individuals sentenced are Manager Etonzor, Daniel Derietiedei, Inimotimi Rufus, and Tari Firstman.
Justice Patience Diri, who presided over the case numbered YHC/43c/2021, found the defendants guilty of conspiracy and kidnapping as outlined in Section 2 (1) of the Bayelsa State Law of 2013.
The prosecution, representing the police, revealed that the group, led by Etonzor, had invaded the site of a dredging company in Ayama Ijaw, located in the Southern Ijaw Local Government area of Bayelsa State, with the intent to kidnap the company’s owner.
“While their attempt to abduct the owner of the dredging company failed, they started shooting sporadically and scare away most of the workers. But the 28 years old Secretary of the company, who was hiding in the office, was forcefully taken at gun point,” the prosecution said.
“She was forced to part with the N400,000 proceeds in the company’s safe and took the girl away to a boat on the waterside. She was taken to the kidnappers’ hide out and a ransom of N6.5million was paid for her release.
“Upon her release, after one month and three days, the operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping squad of the Bayelsa State Police Command commenced diligent investigation and through due investigation arrested the leader of the kidnapper’s gang, Etonza Manager, which led to the arrest of other member of the gang.
“On arraignment in court, the convicted kidnappers accused the investigation officers of ‘forceful obtainment ‘of confession and claim ‘intimidation.’”
The court, having heard the arguments presented by both sides, accepted the various statements, witness testimonies, and confessions as valid evidence.
In her ruling, Justice Diri determined that the four defendants were guilty on both counts of conspiracy and kidnapping, imposing a sentence of death by hanging.
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