From Paul Osuyi, Asaba
A former soldier and seven persons have been jailed 13 years each by a Delta State High Court, Kwale for the kidnap of former Speaker, Mr. Monday Igbuya in 2009.
Igbuya, who represented Sapele constituency at the time, was abducted by the hoodlums on May 21, 2009 and demanded N100 million before the victim regained freedom on May 27, 2009.
The convicts include Godspower Ikoro, Godspower omoniyi (an ex-soldier), Ernest Atteh, John Adapamu, Ife Freedom, Sunday Uba Tiemo, Kemi Koinyang and Isaiah Mumbor.
They were arrested in Sapele and arraigned on a six-count charge before the suit was transferred to Kwale for trial.
The charges include conspiracy to commit felony to wit, kidnapping, armed robbery and the substantive case of kidnap of Monday Igbuya and demanding the sum of N100 million with menaces.
Justice O. Jaloggo-Williams, who handed down the sentence, found them guilty for kidnapping and demanding property with menace and sentenced them to 10 years (for kidnapping) in jail each with hard labour and three years in imprisonment (for demanding N100 million with menace).
Justice Jaloggo-Williams, however discharged the convicts on the count of armed robbery for lack of sufficient evidence.