Rivers State High Court ,sitting in Port Harcourt, has sentenced Abel Okoro, and Vincent Wilson, to life imprisonment without option of fine, for kidnapping the wife of Senator George Thompson-Sekibo ,and two of her female friends.
Wife of the senator, Princess Asime Sekibo, and Evelyn Awinika-Osai, and another of their friend, were abducted on March 22, 2012, around Obiri Ikwerre axis of East West road on their way back from study at the University of Port Harcourt.
The convicts were arraigned in Port Harcourt ,on September 21, 2012, on nine-count-charge bordering on felony, kidnapping, armed robbery and rape. The two convicts and others now at large, collected the sum of N10 million from the family of the victims around Mbiama in Ahoada West before the victims were released.
After the incident, three suspects were arrested for prosecution. But, one of them jumped bail, leaving Okoro and Wilson. Delivering the judgment yesterday, the trial judge, Justice E. Thompson, agreed that confessional statements by the defendants were made voluntarily without inducement and revealed how they conspired to commit the crime.
Justice Thompson found the accused persons guilty of count three and four, which bordered on conspiracy, attempted kidnap and kidnap of Sekibo ,and Awinika-Osai. She, thereafter, sentenced the two to life imprisonment without option of fine.
