Four persons are to appear in an Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri on Wednesday, July 13 on the charge of hostage-taking and attempted murder..
The suspects are Onyekachi Nwaigwe, Ibe Christian, Oparaocha Chidiebere and Ikechi Igbo.
The charges preferred against them include the offence of hostage-taking contrary to Section 6 of the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law; hostage taking contrary to Section 3 of the Imo State Prohibition of Hostage Taking and Related Offences Law; attempted murder contrary to section 320 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 30, Vol. II Laws of Eastern Nigeria as applicable in Imo State.
Recall that on or about 11th February 2022, the accused and others now at large, at Umuchoko Egbelu Obube Community in Owerri North Local Government Area of the state allegedly conspired and abducted the Traditional Prime Minister of the community, Okenze George Nkwoji.
The four suspects and others at large were said to have abducted Okenze Nkwoji from where he was attending meeting with his kinsmen and took him to a bush where they tortured him, broke his head with empty wine bottles, stole his phones and wallet containing his ATM and cash money.
The accused also allegedly gathered used motor tyres preparatory to set Nkwoji, who is also the Publisher of Nigeria Moment Newspaper ablaze before he was miraculously freed by providence.
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The accused alongside others now at large equally organized into a group and marched to the house of the victim and destroyed his building and cars parked therein without any cause of action.
A medical report shown our correspondent revealed an intricate brain surgery carried out on the victim in a specialist hospital in Lagos to correct the damage done on his vital cells by the injury.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice had directed the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to prosecuted the case.
The directive followed a petition written by the Traditional Ruler of the community, Eze Jude Nwogu.
