For kidnapping and selling little Master Light Ozioma David, four persons among whom are a man and three women have bagged various terms of imprisonment in Aba, Abia State.
Delivering judgment, the Presiding Judge, Justice T. Uzokwe of High Court 2, Aba said the prosecution proved the accused persons committed the crime beyond reasonable doubt.
The Judge sentenced the accused to 14 years imprisonment on each count charge except count 4 where 2nd and 3rd accused persons were sentenced to 10 years each.
The sentences which were with hard labour are to run concurrently except that of the 2nd and 3rd accused which would run consecutively.
The four convicts, Chinyere Ahamefula, Uchenna Alfred, Chika Eze and Akudo Alozie were said to have on July 21, 2009 connived with the first accused, Ekwutosi Ogolo (who passed away in the course of the prosecution), at Glorious Children’s Academy to entice Master Light Ozioma David out of the custody of his parents and sold off the little boy.
At the trial, Prosecution counsel, Chikezie Greg told the court that kidnapping from guardianship and conspiracy were contrary to Section 19(1)(a) of the Trafficking in persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act (2003) and contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal code Cap 30 Vol. 11 Laws of Eastern Nigeria 1963 as applicable in Abia State.
Counsels for the accused persons, N.N Eluwa and K.E Obaji maintained that the prosecution had failed to prove their case against their clients and prayed the matter be struck out for lack of merit.
