*Wants life imprisonment

A High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has convicted and sentenced three men to 14 years’ imprisonment for kidnapping an 83-year-old woman, Theresa Nwosu.

The convicts, Kelechi Nnaji, Bright Anele, Onyebuchi Nweke, were arrested and arraigned on three counts of kidnapping, conspiracy and possession of illegal arms, following the abduction of the woman on September 22, 2015 in Obite, Okehi community, in the Etche Local Government Area of the state.

The trial judge, Boma Diepiri, found Nnaji, Anele and Nweke guilty of the crime.

Justice Diepiri said the prosecution proved charges of kidnapping and conspiracy against the convicts beyond reasonable doubt.

However, the fourth accused person, Confidence Ozuowu, was discharged and acquitted.

Speaking outside the courtroom, the lawyers for the defendants, Chioma Chukwu and Stanley Amadi-Igwe, commended the judge, but stated that they might appeal the judgment.

The prosecution lawyer from the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Chidi Eke, said the sentence should have been life imprisonment according to the laws of the state.

Eke said, “As sound as the judgment is, I have a little problem with it. The law provides that upon conviction for kidnapping in Rivers State, the punishment is life imprisonment without an option of a fine.

“So, I was taken aback when the sentence was reduced to 14 years’ imprisonment for each of them. I will not appeal against that, but I can only appeal if they appeal against their conviction; then I will cross-appeal against their sentence.”

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