By Peter Okutu
Six persons suspected to have kidnapped the mother-in-law of Ebonyi State All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, governorship aspirant, Senator Julius Ucha, were last weekend, remanded in prison custody by an Abakaliki Magistrate Court.

In the charge No: MAB\586C\2010 between Commissioner of Police vs Friday Nnamuonu 35, Monday Okarie 40, Igabor Eze 30, Monday Ani 29, Emmanuel Savior 24, Savoir Boniface Vincent, 28, and others now at large, the suspects were said to have kidnapped Mrs. Maria Nwinya on October 24, 2010.

The six suspects were arraigned at Abakaliki Magistrate Court 3 for attempting to commit felony, unlawful detention, hostage taking and kidnapping of Mrs. Maria Nwinya, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 4 (1) a, b and c and punishable under section 4 of the Ebonyi State Security Internal Enforcement and Related matters Law No 007 of 2009.

The second count charge against the suspects stated “that you Friday Nnamuonu, Monday Okarie, Igabor Eze, Monday Ani, Emmanuel Savior, Savoir Boniface Vincent and others now at large, on the 24th of October 2010, at Umuhuali Ishielu Village in Abakaliki Magistrate District, did conspire amongst yourselves to commit felony to wit; kidnapping and thereby committing an offence punishable under section 516 A, 1 of the criminal code Act Cap C.38, Vol 4 laws of the Federation of Nigeria.

When the charges were read to the accused, counsel to the accused persons, Mr. L .U. Nworie, pleaded with the court to grant the accused bail on the grounds that they had no criminal record in the past.

But the Prosecutor, Godwin Oboh, a Police Inspector, who apologised for the absence of the complainant, Mrs. Nwinya, currently at the Niger Foundation Hospital Enugu, on a medical treatment, opposed the application for bail of the accused.