Anambra govt gets tough on kidnappers •Demolishes 2 buildings owned by suspect •Court rejects kidnapper's application for bail

TWO bungalows linked to a kidnap suspect, Mr Emeka Ezekwe, have been demolished by the Anambra State government, at Umuihepune, Umuatu village, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state.
Governor Peter Obi, who led the demolition team, said the war against kidnapping and other crimes in the state must be won.
The demolition followed the arrest of Mr Ezekwe and recovery of arms and ammunition hidden underground in plastic containers on the premises.
Among the items recovered were one rocket grenade, three grenade propellers, two AK 47 rifles, 27 AK 47 magazines, 170 rounds of live ammunition and nine chains used in restraining kidnap victims.
Governor Obi said the demolition exercise was in line with the policy of the state government that any property linked to a kidnapper would be demolished.
He said the government would not allow anybody to benefit from proceeds of kidnap and other forms of crime, while assuring that government was already winning the battle as the wave of kidnap across the state had reduced.
The state Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, Mr Ayole Abeh, said Mr Ezekwe was a member of the kidnap gang led by Mr Olisa Ifedike, also known as Ofeakwu, who was arrested last month and whose houses had equally been demolished by the state government.
Residents of the community thanked Governor Obi for his determination to eradicate crime in the state and assured him of total support.
Meanwhile, AN Onitsha High Court, presided over by Justice Peter Obiora, has turned down an application for bail by one of the alleged kidnappers of a popular transporter, Sir GUO Okeke.
Counsel for the accused, P.O Anyaegbunam,  had applied that his client, Alexander Onyinanya, be granted bail.
But the defense counsel, Chris Ajugwe, opposed the application, on the ground that the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Peter Umeadi, had reassigned the matter from Justice H. O. Ozor of Awka High to Onitsha Administrative, Justice C. O. Nweke.
He said the matter  came to the court of Justice Nweke not for the accused to engage in a “forum shopping by smuggling in an application for bail.”
Ajugwe added that the transfer of the case followed an information filed by the Attorney-General of the state that the alleged kidnappers should be tried for the kidnap of Sir Okeke.
He argued  that if the accused was granted bail, he would disappear like the first defendant, Emeka Eze  and three others who had been granted bail and were no where to be found.

The Tribune