My husband is being held by kidnappers who are demanding a ransom of N5.4 million, says the wife
In an Ihiala High Court session in Nnewi, Anambra State, Mrs. Eucharia Agbasimalo, the wife of Obiorah Agbasimalo, a candidate of the Labour Party in the November 2021 Anambra State governorship election who was kidnapped, asserted that the two defendants, Chukwudi Odimegwu and Maxwell Nwokolo, currently undergoing trial, played a role in her husband's abduction.
During cross-examination by B.I. Nkememena, the counsel for one of the defendants, Eucharia conveyed that her belief in the defendants' involvement stemmed from her conversations with Nwokolo, one of the defendants, and his confessional statements to the police. She highlighted how Nwokolo reportedly collected a total ransom of N5.4 million without releasing their victim, strengthening her conviction of their complicity in her husband's kidnapping.
The ongoing trial before Justice C.N. Mbonu-Nwenyi involves Odimegwu and Nwokolo, who face charges related to the conspiracy and kidnapping of Agbasimalo on September 18, 2021, in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
During her testimony in court, Eucharia stated, "The second defendant, Nwokolo, advised my husband's family against reporting the incident to the police or media, claiming he was in constant communication with the kidnappers to secure my husband's release. However, despite our compliance with Nwokolo's request and the payment of the N5.4 million ransom, my husband has not been released to date.
"In his statement to the police, Nwokolo asserted that his Investigating Police Officer informed him that the first defendant reported that my husband's running mate paid N8 million to the police for his bail bond and also enlisted a lawyer to facilitate his release from police custody.
"Nwokolo himself contacted me after a meeting held at the palace of the traditional ruler of Ezinifite in Nnewi South LGA, discussing strategies to secure my husband's release from the kidnappers' camp. He mentioned being present at the meeting with one of the suspected kidnappers, 'Blackstone,' who is still at large."
Eucharia recounted that Nwokolo reassured her that her husband would be well taken care of and would return home once her family adhered to the kidnappers' demands.
She shared, "At the same meeting held at the Igwe's palace, the second defendant, Nwokolo, received an initial sum of N2.5 million. Although I didn't witness the transaction between Nwokolo and my husband's brother, it was relayed to me that the money was handed over to Nwokolo as he requested. Nwokolo himself later confirmed to me that he had received the cash."
Following the cross-examination, the court adjourned further proceedings until Friday, February 16, for the next prosecution witness to testify. Obiorah Agbasimalo, the Labour Party governorship candidate, was kidnapped on September 18, 2021, in Lilu community, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, while returning from a political campaign, and his whereabouts remain unknown.
In the case with Suit No. HIH/15C/22, the defendants, Chukwudi Odimegwu and Nwokolo Maxwell, are facing charges of alleged conspiracy and kidnapping in relation to the incident involving Obiorah Agbasimalo on September 18, 2021, in Lilu, Ihiala.
The Department of State Services initially brought charges against the accused individuals before a Magistrate Court in Awka, the state capital, in 2022 under Charge No. MAW/506/2022, accusing them of conspiracy and kidnapping in a two-count charge.
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