The Anambra State High Court in Nnewi has sentenced two men, Chidozie Obinna and Ifeanyi Onyido, to death by hanging for criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and causing grievous harm to a businessman, Lawrence Ezeifeka. Justice Vincent Agbata of the Nnewi Judicial Division delivered the judgment on Wednesday, convicting the defendants based on evidence presented by the prosecution.
Conviction and Sentencing
The court found both defendants guilty of the charges. Obinna, the first defendant, was convicted and sentenced in absentia after he allegedly absconded while on bail during the trial. Onyido, who was present in court, also received the death penalty. Justice Agbata ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, noting that the evidence was not effectively challenged or contradicted by the defense.
Details of the Crime
According to the prosecution, the convicts, along with other gang members still at large, attacked Ezeifeka at his residence in Ekwulumili, Nnewi South Local Government Area, on December 12, 2020. The assailants assaulted the victim, threw him from the first floor of his building, and abducted him to an unknown location. Ezeifeka was held captive for four days before being released after his family paid a ransom of N7.5 million.
Operatives of the Anambra State Police Command, in collaboration with the State Security Service, tracked and arrested the defendants. Lead prosecuting counsel, Mary Ukaekwe-Onyeaharam, urged the court to continue Obinna’s trial in absentia, citing provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Anambra State, 2022, and the Anambra State Practice Direction for Criminal Matters, 2023.
Witness Testimonies and Defense
Four prosecution witnesses testified during the trial, including the victim, the secretary of Ekwulumili Town Union, the victim’s son who delivered the ransom, and the investigating police officer. In his defense, Onyido denied involvement in the crime and claimed he was also a victim of kidnapping. However, Justice Agbata held that evidence showed Onyido received part of the ransom and failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the funds.
The judge emphasized that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction and death sentence for both defendants. The court’s decision underscores the severity of kidnapping and related crimes in the region.
