The men allegedly kidnapped nine kids.

BY Ogo Anioke

Three persons were on Friday arraigned before an Abakaliki High Court over the recent kidnap of nine kids in Ishiagu area of Ebonyi State.

The accused persons, Onyedikachi Nwosu, 24; Iboko Amos,18; and Chidiebere Amadi, 24; all male, were arraigned before the Magistrate Court 1 sitting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital on a four-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony to wit: kidnapping and allegedly kidnapping.

Three of the abducted kids were aged between 2 months and five years.

The accused persons were alleged to have committed the offences on December 20, 2012 at Ayaragu Village, Amagu Ishiagu in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

According to court records, the three accused persons had on the said date and place in the Ivo magisterial district, kidnapped one Marvelous Chukwu, aged 2 months and 11 days; Akachukwu Nkwor aged 1year and 7 months; and Chiemere Nkwo aged 5 years.

Parts of the charges reads:

“That you Onyedikachi Nwosu ‘m’, Iboko Amos ‘m’ and Chidiebere Amadi ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district did kidnap one Marvelous Chukwu aged 2 months and 11 days old and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4(1) (a) and punishable under Section 4(2) of Internal Security Enforcement and other related matters Cap 55 Vol. 2, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.

“That you Onyedikachi Nwosu ‘m’, Iboko Amos ‘m’ and Chidiebere Amadi ‘m’ and others now at large on the same date, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial district did kidnap one Akachukwu Nkwor ‘m’ aged 1 year and 7 months old and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 4(1) (a) and punishable under Section 4(2) of Internal Security Enforcement and other related matters Cap 55 Vol. 2, Laws of Ebonyi State of Nigeria 2009.

After the charges were read to the accused, their lawyers P. O. Nwaebonyi and C. A. Ugandu, made oral applications for their bail which was rejected by the presiding magistrate, Job Orude. He said the accused persons will stay in prison as the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

He, however, while directing that the case file be transmitted immediately to the Department for Public Prosecution, DPP, reminded the accused persons of their rights to seek bail from the High Court even as he adjourned the matter indefinitely.