A High Court judge in Akwa Ibom State, Justice Joy Uwanna, has been abducted by yet-to-be-identified gunmen in the Oron Local Government Area of the state.
NIGERIACRIME learnt that the driver of the judge was kidnapped alongside, while her orderly was killed in the attack which occurred along Uyo-Okobo road.
Confirming the abduction on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Oron branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Toroscho Eyene, revealed that the judge was kidnapped on her away to Uyo after a court sitting.
The NBA leader further disclosed that there would be a meeting with the State Commissioner of Police and the Department of State Services, DSS, tomorrow (Wednesday) as part of efforts to seek her freedom.
Eyene said, “Yes, the sitting Judge in Oron was kidnapped yesterday (Monday) on her way back to Uyo after a court sitting. By tomorrow, Wednesday, we are moving down to Uyo to meet with the Commissioner of Police, Olatoye Durusinmi and the DSS on the issue.”
The Public Relations Officer of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, Odiko Macdon, could not be reached for comments as of the time of filing this report.
In another development, two men, Friday Alo and Ibrahim Zatayahu, who allegedly stole goods valued at N702,000, were, on Tuesday, arraigned before an Ojo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.
The defendants are standing trial before Magistrate D.S. Odukoya on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and stealing.
They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Prosecutor, Insp. Esther Adesulu told the court that the defendants committed the offences in November in the Iba area of Ojo.
Adesulu said the defendants conspired with others, now at large, to steal goods belonging to the complainant, one Kunle Ogedegbe.
The items, according to her, include: six lengths of two-by-one pipes, valued at N45,000, six lengths of bars, valued at N46,000 and 20 pieces of scaffolding, valued at N300,000.
The prosecutor further stated that the defendants also stole 10 yards of wires, valued at N30,000, welding materials, valued at N5000, one-metre hat wire, valued at N15,000, one sheet of 4mm plate, valued at N75,000, two lengths of U-channel, valued at N60,000 and other items, all amounting to N702,000.
The magistrate granted the defendants bail in the sum of N300,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.
She adjourned the case till March 5, 2024 for mention.