The Federal
Government yesterday arraigned Delta State alleged kidnap kingpin, Mr. Kelvin Oniarah
Ezeiegbe and two others before a Federal High Court in Abuja on a 13-count
charge of terrorism and kidnapping.
He was
arraigned alongside Frank Azuekor and Michael Omonigho.
They all
pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
Subsequently,
the prosecution counsel, Mrs. Chioma Onuegbu, prayed the court for an order
directing the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody pending
their trial.
Refusing the
oral application for bail made by the defence lawyer, Mr. Bala I. Dakum, the
trial judge, Justice Ademola Adeniyi said the application was not in line with
the Criminal Procedure Rule of the court.
Mr. Dakum had
drawn the court’s attention to the difficulties he was facing with trying to
have access to his clients, who were in the custody of the State Security
Service (SSS).
But after
listening to the counsel’s submissions, Justice Ademola ordered: “The accused
persons should have access to their counsel from Festus Keyamo Chambers and Co,
and that each of the accused persons should have access to a member of their
family.
“Counsel should
file and serve the necessary court papers and the accused persons shall be
remanded in SSS custody and be reproduced in court at the next adjourned date.”
The case was
adjourned till July 1, for hearing.
The accused
persons are being prosecuted for conspiracy to commit terrorist acts,
kidnapping of persons, inciting persons to commit acts of terrorism,
recruitment and abetting escape, contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism
Prevention Act 2011 as amended.
They were also
alleged to have kidnapped Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) on August 23, 2013 and
killed several security operatives, who were on lawful duty.
Omonigho is
being prosecuted on a two-count charge of providing support for the commission
of terrorist acts and failure to disclose terrorism information to law
enforcement agencies, an offence punishable under Section 8 (1) (b) of the
Terrorism Prevention Act 2011 as amended.
The accused
persons have been in detention since September 25, 2013, after they were
arrested by security agents in Delta State for allegedly holding the entire
state hostage for days.
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