A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Ogbia has sentenced four men to 40 years in prison each for kidnapping Hon. Federal Otokito, a former commissioner for trade and investment.
Otokito was kidnapped in 2022 and taken to Igbomotoru bush, where the kidnappers demanded a ransom.
Presiding over case no. OHC/4c/2022, Justice S.W. Amaduobogha found Kingsley Obhesi (24), Joshua Abi (32), Gift Damene (38), and Powell Inegite (36) guilty of conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms.
The convicts were apprehended by operatives of Operation Puff Adder and are believed to be associates of a prominent ex-militant leader from Southern Ijaw LGA.
The police prosecuting counsel, Stella Jerry-Friday told the court that the convicts, on the 20th day of January 2022 at the Otuokpoti in Ogbia LGA of Bayelsa, armed with sophisticated guns and offensive weapons, unlawfully took away Federal Oparminola Otokito against his will to Igbomotoru bush in Southern Ijaw area of the state with the intent to demand ransom or any other unlawful consideration and thereby committed an offence.
Justice S.W. Amaduobogha, after hearing from the Police Prosecution counsel and the defence counsel declared that the investigative and prosecution team had done due diligence and proved beyond reasonable doubt the case of conspiracy, kidnapping, and unlawful possession of firearms against the convicts.
Some members of the Otuokpoti community where the former Commissioner hails from in Ogbia LGA commended the Bayelsa Police Command particularly the Operatives of Operation Puff Adder led by Supol Chris Nwaogbo for their diligent investigation and prosecution.
The former Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Federal Otokito, was abducted from his residence in Otuokpoti in Ogbia in 2022.
The gunmen were reported to have invaded the neighbourhood, shooting indiscriminately into the air to frighten the locals before whisking the former commissioner away.
