NIGERIA: KIDNAPPER SENTENCED TO DEATH IN BAYELSA

July 7, 2021:

An Ogbia High Court sitting in Yenagoa on 28 June 2021 sentenced to death by firing squad a 39-year old man, Charles Nikson, for his involvement in the November 2020 thwarted abduction of Mrs. Vivian Okoye, the wife of a popular businessman and a medical practitioner in Bayelsa State.
Okoye, the wife of Obinna Okoye, also known as Blessed Obaino, who owns the A-Z Electronics shops in various parts of the Bayelsa capital, and a medical practitioner identified as Alex Ogregade Ileimokumo from Igbedi community of Southern Ijaw Local Government Council area, were rescued after a shootout with the men of the Operation Puff Adder.
Nikson, who was the driver to the kidnapping gang, was arraigned before the Ogbia High Court on the two count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.
He was arraigned at the court with another suspect, David Ekegima.
Ekegima was discharged and acquitted.
The presiding Judge, Justice Ajunwa, while delivering her ruling on the matter, found Nikson guilty of the two charges.
She said: “On the charge of conspiracy, there is no specific term for the charge. And I hereby sentence you to 10 years imprisonment.”
Justice Anjunwa, also, declared him sentenced to death by firing squad.
There was a heavy shootout in November 2020 between operatives of “Operation Puff Adder” of the Bayelsa State Police Command and a seven-man kidnapping gang along the Imiringi areas of Ogbia Local Government Council of the state, leading to the rescue of Mrs. Vivian Okoye.