[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url” /][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” /][/contact-form]Mrs. Eucharia Agbasimalo, the wife of the kidnapped Labour Party candidate in the November 2021 Anambra State governorship election, Obiorah Agbasimalo, disclosed that the two suspects on trial in the kidnap case collected N5 million as ransom on behalf of the alleged kidnappers for her husband’s release.
During her testimony on Friday at a Nnewi High Court presided over by Justice C. N. Mbonu-Nwenyi, Mrs. Agbasimalo revealed that N2.5 million was paid into the account of one suspect, while the other suspect collected the remaining N2.5 million after promising to release the victim but failed to do so.
Agbasimalo, the LP governorship candidate, was kidnapped on September 18, 2021, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State and has not been found to date.
Mrs. Eucharia recounted how the accused persons, Chukwudi Odimegwu and Nwokolo Maxwell, initially admitted knowing the whereabouts of her husband while in police custody but later denied being aware when charged in court.
She emphasized that the accused persons were together with her husband before his kidnap and warned her husband’s family not to involve security operatives and the media, claiming they were in constant contact with the kidnappers.
Mrs. Agbasimalo expressed determination to find her husband, stating, “I will keep appealing to the judiciary to do their best; they are my last hope to ensure that justice is served. Nothing will take the place of me finding my husband. If there is anybody who has been found to have a hand in his kidnap, they should face justice.”
In the ongoing trial, the accused persons, Chukwudi Odimegwu and Nwokolo Maxwell, face charges of conspiracy and kidnapping. The court has adjourned the matter to January 19, 2024, for further hearing.
