The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has sentenced three persons to death by hanging and two others to life imprisonment without an option of a fine. This is for the kidnap and murder of one Deyspring Braide, a former Head Personnel Management of Local Government Administration of Asari-Toru Local Government Area four years ago.
Investigations by the DSS also revealed that the suspects had kidnapped one, Dr. Alexander Akani, a consultant with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, on the 29th of June, 2017. Dr. Akani,who died at the kidnapper’s den was abducted at his residence in Rumuekini, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area.
The Court presided over by Justice J. Kolawole Omotosho also discharged and acquitted four of the nine persons arrested by the DSS in connection with the crime.
Omotosho who commended the DSS for their thorough investigation amid tears by family members of the convicts said the judgment would serve as a deterrent to other youths involved in kidnapping and other criminal activities. The judge furthermore, warned youths to shun criminal activities as crime does not pay.
