Andrew, a native doctor from Ikono Local Government Area of the state, was said to have conspired with others, now at large, to commit the offence at Nkemba Street, Uyo on November 29, 2015, and harbored the victims in his shrine at Ikot Enua, Ikono, demanding N50m as ransom.
The convicted native doctor was standing trial with the first defendant, Ibe Emeka, on a six-count charge for conspiracy, kidnapping, and armed robbery, in which he was found guilty, while the Court discharged and acquitted Emeka due to the failure of the prosecution to prove the ingredients of kidnapping, armed robbery, and conspiracy against him.
In a one-hour judgment, the trial judge, Justice Gabriel Ette, described Ibe Emeka as an innocent man and a victim who happened to be in the company of the wrong guys in the wrong place and at the wrong time by inadvertence, adding that the only difference between him and the other victims was that no ransom was placed on his head.