By OKONKWO EZE
NNEWI —  An Onitsha High Court in Anambra State, presided over by Justice Chudi Nwankwo, yesterday, issued a bench warrant for the arrest of five suspected kidnappers of an Onitsha-based transport magnet and Managing Director of G.U.O. Transport Limited, Chief G. U. Okeke, who allegedly absconded after they were granted bail by Nnewi High Court and Otuocha High Court respectively.

In his ruling shortly after hearing from G.U. Okeke’s legal counsel, Chris Ajugwe, Justice Nwankwo ordered that the police, with the assistance of the prosecution counsel, should arrest and produce the five accused persons in court during the next adjournment date, for the commencement of trial proper.

On the application for bail brought before the court by Barrister Chinelo Okongwu, counsel to the seventh accused person, Alexander Onyinanya, which was vehemently opposed by Ajugwe, on the ground that the application had been previously heard and dismissed by another court, Justice Nwankwo ordered both counsel to produce the certified true copy of how the previous bail application was determined by another court, whether it was dismissed or not heard at all, to enable him adjudicate on this fresh bail application.

He therefore adjourned the bail application to May 15 for hearing, depending on whether the previous application was heard and determined or not.

In his motion for the warrant of arrest, Ajugwe complained that only the 4th and 7th defendants were in court because five other suspects, including Emeka Eze (1st accused), Chukwudi Agu (2nd accused), Chinonso Maduka (3rd accused), Ndubuisi Ogbuji (5th accused) and Anthony Okafor (6th accused) had been granted bail and they absconded from trial, adding that four of them were granted bail by an Nnewi High Court, while the other one was granted bail by an Otuocha High Court.