Kidnapped Anambra LP guber candidate: We paid N5m ransom, yet my husband was not released - Wife

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By Madu Obi

The wife Chief Obiorah Agbasimelo, the kidnapped Labour Party, LP, governorship candidate in the 2021 Anambra State election, Mrs Eucharia Agbasimalo, has narrated how the two suspects standing trial in connection with the incident collected N5 million on behalf of the alleged kidnappers to free her husband, but never released him.

Testifying when the suspects appeared before an Nnewi High Court, she alleged that N2.5 million was paid into the account of one of the suspects, while a cash of N2.5 million was collected by him, after assuring them that her husband would be released.

Mrs. Agbasimelo, who was the first prosecution witness in the case presided over by Justice C. N. Mbonu-Nwenyi, recalled how the two accused persons, Chukwudi Odimegwu and Nwokolo Maxwell initially admitted knowing the whereabouts of her husband while in police custody, only to deny same when they were charged to court.

According to her, the accused persons were together with her husband before his kidnap, adding that they had warned members of her husband's family not to involve security operatives and the media in the matter because, as they claimed, they were constantly in touch with the kidnappers.

She insisted that the suspects were either directly or indirectly involved in the kidnap of her husband on September 18, 2021.

She said: "I have been receiving threats from unknown quarters and they have been terrifying me and my lawyer. But I know I am fighting a righteous course because it is my husband that I am looking for."

"My husband is a good man and I know that God will protect him. It is bad enough and nothing will take the place of me finding my husband, if there be anybody who has been found to have a hand in his kidnap, they should face justice."

Recall that in the charge against the suspects, the Anambra State Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, alleged that while armed with guns and other offensive weapons, the accused persons kidnapped Obiorah Agbasimalo against his will.

They thereafter demanded a ransom of N1 million, N5 million and another N1 million totalling N7 million from his family for his release and yet after receiving the ransom, failed to release him till date.

The judge adjourned the matter to January 19, 2024, for further hearing, while the suspects were remanded in Nnewi Correctional Center.