A’Ibom High Court hands death sentence to Police Corporal, accomplice

Nkereuwem Effiong

The Akwa Ibom State High Court has sentenced a police corporal, Mbazigwe Chinedu Friday, and a bus conductor, Isaac Eddy Ndeesor, to death by hanging for the kidnapping of Elder Akara Johnson Mendie, Vice Principal of Community Secondary School, Nkek, in Ukanafun Local Government Area.

Delivering judgment in Uyo, Nsemeke Daniel found the two men guilty of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.

The incident

The victim was abducted on Sunday, 5 July 2015, at about 3:30 pm while returning from church with his wife and family members along the Urua Akpan Udosen/Ikot Unah Road in Ukanafun.

His wife told the court that four armed men in a Toyota Camry blocked their vehicle, forcibly took her husband and drove him to an unknown destination. She said the attackers also seized her handbag containing important documents, including a will, a Power of Attorney, reading glasses and a mobile phone.

Testifying before the court, the victim said he was blindfolded and taken to an unknown location. He stated that his captors told him one of his brothers had paid them ₦50 million to kill him, but offered to spare his life if he could produce ₦25 million.

After several days in captivity, negotiations commenced. On 10 July 2015, a ransom of ₦200,000 was eventually paid through the victim’s younger sister. He was later released and abandoned in Bori, Rivers State, where he reported to the Bori Police Station. The Divisional Police Officer subsequently arranged transport for his return to Ukanafun.

Ransom negotiations

The victim’s sister, who lives in Bayelsa State, recounted the tense negotiations that preceded his release. She said the kidnappers initially instructed her to deliver the ransom in Bayelsa but repeatedly changed the meeting points — from Bayelsa to Rumuokoro, then to a trailer park in Ogoni, and finally to a roundabout in Ikwerre.

At the final location, three masked men on a motorcycle collected the ransom and fled. The following day, she received information that her brother had been freed.

The convicts

Mbazigwe Chinedu Friday: Friday, 41, is a native of Umucha in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State. At the time of the offence, he was a Police Corporal attached to Mopol 57, Ukana, in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. He joined the Nigeria Police Force in January 2007.

In his confessional statement, he admitted participating in the abduction. He told investigators that he was contacted on the day of the incident by one Felix, whom he had known from Mopol 56 in Ogoni. Felix allegedly introduced another man known as “Different Man”, who claimed that an unnamed “honourable” wanted the victim kidnapped over allegations that the victim had killed his friend.

Friday admitted to using his Toyota Camry to block the victim’s vehicle. He said Felix and Isaac forcibly removed the victim and placed him inside his car. When the Camry developed a fault, he travelled by public transport to Uyo, retrieved his Volkswagen Golf and returned to continue the operation, transporting the victim to a bush in Ogoni, Rivers State.

He acknowledged that the firearm used was not an official police weapon and that his accomplices were not police officers. He further admitted that he knew his actions amounted to kidnapping.

Following Isaac’s arrest by the Department of State Services (DSS), he led operatives to Friday. A search of Friday’s residence led to the recovery of a locally made revolver pistol, three rounds of 9mm live ammunition, five rounds of AK-47 ammunition, an empty AK-47 magazine, a wrap of Indian hemp, CCTV equipment, multiple mobile phones, ATM cards, SIM packs and car accessories.

Isaac Eddy Ndeesor

Ndeesor, a native of Ogoni in Rivers State, was about 28 years old at the time of the offence and lived in Ahoada, Rivers State.

He admitted that they lay in wait near the victim’s residence after receiving information that he would be returning from church. He confirmed that Friday used his vehicle to block the victim’s car before abducting him and taking him to a bush in Ogoni.

Ndeesor also admitted to stealing and using the victim’s phone, an action that ultimately led to his arrest after security agencies traced the device.

Court’s observations

In his judgment, Justice Daniel criticised the protracted nature of the trial. He noted that although the case was filed in 2016, it was concluded only in 2026 — a 10-year delay he described as unacceptable.

The judge dismissed Friday’s claim that he was framed, stating that his explanations were inconsistent and did not diminish the weight of the evidence against him.

“How can a police officer lead a gang of kidnappers to abduct a poor victim returning from church with his wife and family?” the judge asked.

He held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The verdict

The court convicted both defendants on three counts: Count one, conspiracy: Five years’ imprisonment each; Count two, Kidnapping: Death by hanging for both defendants; Count three, Unlawful possession of firearms: Seven years’ imprisonment each.

Pronouncing the sentence, Justice Daniel declared: “You shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy upon you.”