A High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital and presided by Justice Nsemeke Daniel has sentenced Corporal Mbazigwe Chinedu and a bus conductor identified as Isaac Eddy Ndeesor to death by hanging for kidnapping a school principal Elder Akara Johnson Mendie at community secondary school, Nkek , Ukanafun local government area of the state.
It was reported that Elder Mendie was abducted on 5th July, 2015 at about 3:30pm while returning from church with his wife and other family members along Urua Akpan Udosen/Ikot Una road in the community.
According to Justice Daniel, the victim’s wife told the court that four armed men driving in a Toyota Camry blocked their vehicle, forcefully took her husband and escaped with him to unknown destination.
Justice Daniel further disclosed that the victim’s wife said the kidnappers also seized her handbag containing important documents, including a will, a Power of Attorney, reading glasses and a GSM phone.
In his testimony to the court , the kidnappers told the victim that one of his brothers had paid them N50 million to eliminate him but offered to spare his life, if he could produce N25 million.
He said after some days in captivity, negotiations were initiated and on 10th July, 2015, a ransom of N200,000 was eventually paid through the victim’s younger sister to facilitate his released .
He said the abductors finally dropped in Bori, Rivers State, from where he reported at Bori Police Station where the Divisional Police Officer arranged transportation that conveyed him back to his community in Ukanafun local government area in Akwa Ibom state .
Justice Daniel also restated that the victim’s sister who stayed in Bayelsa state and negotiated the ransom told the court the kidnappers initially directed her to deliver the ransom in Bayelsa, but kept changing the meeting points: from Bayelsa to Rumuokoro, then to a trailer park, Ogoni, and finally a roundabout in Ikwerre before the brother was released the following day .
“At the final location, three masked men on a motorcycle collected the ransom and fled.”
He said he joined the Nigeria Police Force in January 2007.
“He told the Police that on the day of the incident, he was contacted by one Felix (surname unknown), whom he had known from Mopol 56 in Ogoni.
“Felix allegedly introduced another individual known as “Different Man,” who claimed that an unnamed “honourable” wanted the victim kidnapped over allegations that the victim had killed his friend.
“Friday admitted he drove his Toyota Camry and blocked the victim’s vehicle.
He stated that Felix and Isaac forcefully removed the victim and placed him inside his car.
“When the Camry developed a fault, he boarded public transport to Uyo, retrieved his Volkswagen Golf and returned to continue the operation, transporting the victim to a bush in Ogoni, Rivers State.”
Delivering judgment, Hon. Justice Nsemeke Daniel criticized the protracted trial, noting that the case, filed in 2016, was only concluded in 2026 and dismissed the first defendant’s claims of a frame-up, stating that his explanations were inconsistent and did not affect the substance of the charges.
“How can a Police officer lead a gang of kidnappers to abduct a poor victim returning from church with his wife and family?”
“You shall be hanged by the neck until you be dead. May God have mercy on you.”
