Nnubia: a kidnap baron on trial

Chief Ignatius Nnubia, an Enugu oil dealer, who has been incriminated in various kidnap incidents in southeast Nigeria, is finally put on trial after a long time of underhand tricks by Enugu state police command. Nnubia, among chains of other businesses, runs the largest filling station in Enugu metropolis called, Conoil.

Nnubia’s kidnap syndicate was, December last year, smashed by the police command which, as a result of suspected compromise, had been foot-dragging in bringing him (and his kidnap gang) to justice. The kidnap kingpin was said to have heavily induced Enugu state police command to buy his freedom. KlinReports learnt that it was as a result of this that the command refused to parade him before members of the public like other previously arrested kidnap suspects.

Thanks to the intervention of the government of Barrister Sullivan Chime which insisted on the prosecution of Nnubia and his co-travelers for their kidnap exploits in the southeast geo-political zone (Igboland). Nnubia’s syndicate, as a matter of fact, reached their dead end when they kidnapped Dr. Francis Edemobi, younger brother to Professor Dora Akunyili, former director general of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC). Akunyili is the current Nigerian information minister. Edemobi, a father of four and real estate guru, is the president of Paul and Grace Foundation, an Enugu-based humanitarian organization.

Nnubia’s kidnap gang held Edemobi hostage for four days, without food. It was while the bandits were still bargaining for ransom with the Akunyilis that the police team swooped on them, killing two and arresting one.

At last, Enugu state police command, on Tuesday January 13, commenced the prosecution of the kidnap suspects, including their kingpin, Nnubia. The suspects, including Emmanuel Okoli (46), Anthony Chigbo (48), Anike Ejike (28), Nnubia’s driver and Okorie Ifeukwe (40), are standing trial before a magistrate court in Enugu, presided over by Joy Okibe, on a five-count charge of armed robbery, illegal possession of firearms, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment of Edemobi.

The kidnap suspects, among other charges, conspired with some other persons at large to, at gun point, rob Edemobi and some of his personal belongings and cash. Nnubia, the kidnap patron, is, in the third count, accused of unlawful possession of an English-made Barretta pistol, eight rounds of AK 47 live ammunition and 35 rounds of 9mm live ammunition without license by the inspector general of police. The accused persons respectively committed offences contrary to sections 6 (b) and 1 (2) (a) of the Armed Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, 2004. Nnubia, on his part, committed an offence punishable under section 3 (1) of the same act.

But Nnubia’s counsel, Chuma Oguejiofor, after the charge was read, argued that it was unconstitutional for the police to have held the accused persons in custody since December last year. But the police, represented by Inspector Ernest Eriagu, retorted that the suspects were kept on a ‘holding charge’, which Oguejiofor insisted was alien to Nigeria’s law. Oguejiofor remonstrated that Okibe’s court lacked jurisdiction to try the case, especially, as it involved armed robbery. The lawyer, also, contested the first three counts of the charge, contending that they were brought under the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, 2004, a provision, he contended, is silent on the jurisdiction of magistrate courts to prosecute armed robbery cases.

Oguejiofor’s contention, in the main, is that the kidnap and armed robbery case ought to have been brought before the state high court following the legal opinion of the attorney-general and commissioner of justice. The counsel, as a result, called on the court to withdraw from handling the matter for onward transmission to a court of competent jurisdiction (which is the high court). Return date for ruling on jurisdiction, as raised by Nnubia’s counsel, Oguejiofor, is, however, slated for next month.

This kidnap case is, indeed, a high profile one, as the state’s attorney general and commissioner for justice, Chief Nduka Ikeyi, even announced appearance in court (to demonstrate the commitment of Chime’s government towards eradication of kidnaps and violent crime in the state). Ikeyi, among other things, urged the court to remand the accused in prison custody pending determination of the case.
In a bid to prevent the rising wave of kidnaps and other violent crimes in the state, Chime’s government declares that it would enact a prescribing capital punishment for kidnappers in Enugu state. This decision was taken at a meeting of the state’s executive council on the heels of the shock that trailed abduction and dramatic rescue of Edemobi.
Dr. Jude Akubuilo, special adviser to Governor Chime on special projects and diaspora matters, says the measure is to demonstrate the state’s ‘zero tolerance’ for kidnapping, which according to him, is a ‘cankerworm capable of derailing current successful efforts by the government to re-engineer the state and restore it to its former glory.’
It is as a result of this commitment that Governor Chime ensured that Nnuba and members of his kidnap gang do not evade justice. Apart from frustrating the attempts of Enugu state police command to facilitate Nnubia’s freedom, Chime has sworn to see to the end of this heinous crime threatening peace and stability of his state.
KlinReports condemns the prevarication on the part of the police to duly parade and arraign Nnubia and his co-travelers in kidnap incidents in Enugu state and parts of Igboland. On the other hand, we commend Governor Chime for resisting pressures from dubious quarters and allow the police to set rich Nnubia free without bringing him to justice.
Our position is that no member of the public should be allowed to use his/her privileged position to commit crimes and go scot-free. Since one of the arrested kidnappers, Mohammed Ali (30), strongly testified that Nnubia has been sponsoring all their kidnap assignments, including that of Edemobi, the onus is on our law enforcement agencies to bring him to justice, his immense wealth notwithstanding.