A Chief Magistrate sitting in Osisioma Ngwa local government area of Abia State has remanded a native doctor and 6 others in prison over the kidnap of a female reporter with NTA Channel 6 Aba, Linda Osuala.
The native doctor, Ngozi Nwaogwugwu, his brother, Emmanuel and 5 others allegedly involved in the incident were nabbed by a team of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) from the police Area Command in Aba led by Anari Nkanu Anari raided the thick forest between Umuezi Mgboko and Okpuala villages,respectively in Obingwa council area of the state, where the reporter was said to have been taken to by her kidnappers. The accused persons could not take their pleas because the case was a criminal one which should be prosecuted in the High Court.
Magistrate K.I Udo told the parties that his court does not have the jurisdiction to entertain criminal cases with capital punishment(s) and ordered that the case be transferred to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.
However, the magistrate fixed September 19 for report on compliance to the directives of the court to hand over the case to the DPP. Police prosecutor, Victor Mbama stated that they were arraigned on a two count charge of conspiracy to commit felony and kidnapping.
247ureports.com gathered that the accused persons if found guilty risks a minimum jail terms of 10 years, life imprisonment or death sentence according to the provisions of Abia State Law on the prohibition of kidnapping, Terrorism and related matters.
