AN Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State on Monday, ordered that five men, who allegedly kidnapped two women and robbed them of their valuables be remanded in Kirikiri Prison, pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Chief Magistrate, Mrs M. I. Dan-Oni, who gave the order, adjourned the case until Feb. 25.

The defendants — Elu Kenneth, 46; David Obioha, 29; Gift Ogbuji, 23; Lawrence Ndubuisi, 30 and Ugo Obu, 31, reside in Igando area of Lagos State.

They are facing a five-count charge bordering on kidnapping and armed robbery

The Prosecutor, Insp Victor Eruada, had told the court that the defendants committed the offence on Sept. 14, 2018  in Owerri, Imo.

Eruada alleged that the defendants kidnapped and detained Catherine Egwuonwu, her three children and Veronica Duru.

He said the defendants demanded N3 million each as ransom before they are released and the families of the victims paid.

He alleged that the defendants also robbed Egwuonwu of her Toyota 4runner jeep with registration number AAA-155 DW valued at N3.5 million and Duru’s iPhone valued at N350,000 at gunpoint.

“The accused were armed with AK 47 riffles and pump action rifles when they kidnapped and robbed the victims.

Eruada said that the police recovered the vehicle from the defendants, when they brought it Lagos to sell.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 299, 271 and 297 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015 (revised).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports under Section 271, the offence of kidnapping is punishable by death. (NAN)

– Feb. 18, 2019 @ 13:45 GMT |