The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mike Ozekhome

  • Court okays secret trial of Ozekhome’s abductors

    Court okays secret trial of Ozekhome’s abductors

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has agreed to a secret trial of the three men accused of kidnapping frontline lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN), a former Delta State commissioner Prof Hope Eghagha, among others.

    The three are: Kelvin Oniarah Eziegbe, Frank Auekor and Michael Omonigho.

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola granted yesterday the prosecution’s prayer for a secret trial to protect the witnesses, some of who are security operatives.

    By the judge’s ruling, only the suspects, their lawyers, the prosecutor and accredited journalists would be allowed to witness the trial.

    The judge also refused the suspects’ request for bail. But he granted an order for accelerated hearing.

    He adjourned the trial till November 13.

    The three are facing a 14-count of terrorism, murder, hostage-taking and other offences punishable under the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.

    The accused allegedly collected a N40 million ransom from Ozekhome before he was freed.

    The lawyer was kidnapped in August, last year.

    Eghagha, who was also kidnapped in September 30, 2012 when he was travelling from Warri to Asaba, was said to have paid N7 million before he was released.

    They were also accused of killing five police officers: Paul Sunday Ajaka (ASP), Sunday Ewanshiha (Inspector), Michael Akpada (Inspector), Bakary Kong (Inspector) and Innocent Odo (Sergeant) and two prison officials – Lawrence Edore and Oyibo Okoye – on official duties.

     

  • Photo: National conference

    Photo: National conference

    Chief Richard Akinjide,(left)President Markert Women,Madam Felicia Sani,and Mike Ozekhome,at the National Conference in Abuja on Wednesday Photo Abayomi Fayese
    Chief Richard Akinjide,(left)President Market Women,Madam Felicia Sani,and Mike Ozekhome,at the National Conference in Abuja on Wednesday Photo Abayomi Fayese

  • Suspected kidnappers of Ozekhome, Delta Commissioner, others arraigned

    The Federal Government on Monday arraigned three suspected kidnappers accused of involvement in some high profile kidnaps and killing of security personnel.

    The three – Kelvin Oniarah Eziegbe, Frank Azuekor and Micheal Omonigho were accused of being behind series of kidnap and terrorism cases in the Edo-Delta states axis between 2010 and 2013.

    Their victims include popular lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) and Commissioner for Higher Education in Delta State, Prof. Hope Eghagha, among others.

    They were reportedly involved in the abduction of Attanasius Ugbme and his friend, Emmanuel Maka Omorogbe, and the killing of five policemen and two prison officials.

    According to the 13-count charge on which the three were arraigned, they were said to have made about N75million from Ozekhome, Eghagha, Ugbome and Omorogbe before they were released.

    They were alleged to have compelled Ozekhome to pay N40 million (paid in United States Dollars), Eghagha (N7 million), Ugbome (N20 million) and Omorogbe (N3.5 million).

    The prosecution gave the names of the policemen allegedly killed during the kidnap of Ozekhome and Eghagha to include: Paul Sunday Ajaka (an Assistant Superintendent of Police), Sunday Ewanshiha (Inspector), Michael Akpada (Inspector), Bakary Kong (Inspector) and Innocent Odoh (Sergeant).

    The prison officials allegedly killed by the accused person are – Lawrence Edore (Inspector) and Oyibo Okoye (SPA).

    The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges when it was read to them.

     

  • Kidnap suspect Kelvin, two others arraigned

    Kidnap suspect Kelvin, two others arraigned

    •Accused of complicity in abduction of Nwike, Eghagha, Ozekhome, others

    Three men, believed to be involved in the kidnap of Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha, rights activist Mike Ozekhome (SAN), former Anambra State deputy governor, Dr. Chudi Nwike and many others were arraigned yesterday in Abuja before a magistrate’s court in Wuse Zone Two.

    The men, Kelvin Eziegbe, Frank Azuekoh and Haruna Momoh, were accused of being behind some highly coordinated kidnappings in the Southsouth, extending to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

    Nwike, who was reportedly kidnapped in March, was found dead some days later in a community close to Agbor, Delta State, by security agents.

    Kelvin had, before his arrest, engaged in an open show of might when, in company of some masked members of his gang, addressed reporters and had their pictures taken in Kokori, a community in Delta State.

    They were brought to court by stern-looking armed security personnel.

    The three men, who looked blank, were taken before Magistrate Usman Ahmed Shuaibu, where a First Information Report (FIR), prepared by the Department of State Services (DSS), dated October 28, 2013 but filed on October 29, was read to them.

    They were also accused of ambushing and attacking a prison vehicle conveying arrested members of the group.

    They pleaded not guilty.

    The FIR read: “That between February 2, 2012 and September 24, 2013 at Kokori, Asaba, Warri, Port Harcourt and Benin City, in Delta, Rivers and Edo states and along Benin-Abuja Road, Abuja FCT, you Kelvin Eziegbe, Frank Azuekoh and Haruna Momoh conspired with Rufus Ovwigho, Ese Oghenerojakor and others now at large to kidnap for ransom the persons of Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Dr. Chudi Nwike, Hope Eghagha (Prof.) and many others.

    “That you did ambush and attack a Federal Prisons vehicle conveying members of your criminal gang, which resulted in the death of some police and prisons officers.”

     

  • Jubilation at Ozekhome’s Lagos residence

    Jubilation at Ozekhome’s Lagos residence

    Following the release of activist lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, from the den of kidnappers Thursday morning, family members, friends and well wishers gathered at his Lagos residence to jubilate.
    Ozekhome, who was whisked away by armed men about three weeks ago along Benin-Auchi Expressway after four policemen were killed, returned to Lagos immediately the State Security Service, SSS, in the state secured his release.
    At his Igando home, there is myraid of jubilation as both children and adult alike baptised themselves with white chalk.
    Ozekhome, who entered his compound about 11:30am, was also decorated with the chalk, which according to his relations, is a mark of thanksgiving to the Supreme God.
    Dressed in a blue face cap, blue and red t-shirt and a blue jeans, Ozekhome joined his well wishers to dance before he went upstairs for a shower.
    There is also a white cooling van, stocked with drinks for the guests to help themselves out.
    His family members are all smiles as they thanked God for the safe return of “Mike of the people”, just as they admitted to have gone through hell all the while.
    While the adults are in clusters, discussing and merrying, the children are helping themselves out with games such as swings and football.