By Amaechi Okwara
Asaba
A High Court sitting in Asaba has sentenced the kidnappers of the younger brother to the former Delta House of Assembly Speaker, Tobeckwukwu Donald Ochei, to 60 years in prison with hard labour.
A four-man armed gang had on March 27, 2012, kidnapped Mr. Donald Ochei 10 years after his wedding ceremony.
The court presided over by Justice Cletus Emifoniye while delivering verdict found the three accused persons guilty of the offence.
Justice Emifoniye said the accused persons, a three-year-old Igane Enekorogha, a fisherman, a 36-year-old Godwin Sibede, a driver and a 47-year-old Job Burutu were guilty of the four count charge of kidnapping, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, demanding property with menace and illegal possession of firearms.
The court sentenced kidnappers to 10 years in prison each with hard labour for the offence of kidnapping, seven years imprisonment each for conspiracy, three years in jail for each of the accused persons for demanding the sum of N 300 million as ransom and another 10 years jail term each for illegal possession of firearms.
Justice Emifoniye, however, ruled that the sentences would run concurrently.
Prosecution from the Department of Public Prosecutions of the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Samuel Nwanne, had told the Court that Igane Enekorogha, Godwin Sibede, and Job Burutu, with others now at large, on or about March 27, 2012, at Asaba within the Asaba Judicial Division, kidnapped one Tobeckwukwu Donald Ochei in front of his gate around 6:30 am.