From Ifeoma Ejiofor, Nnewi
Mrs. Eucharia Agbasimalo, wife of the kidnapped Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in the November 2021 Anambra State governorship election, Chief Obiorah Agbasimalo, has stated that she has been receiving threat messages to stop looking for her husband.
Mrs Agbasimalo made the statement over the weekend to journalists outside the court premises, after testifying before an Nnewi High Court No. 1 presided over by Justice C. N. Mbonu-Nwenyi, as first Prosecution Witness (PW1).
She said,: “I have been receiving threats from unknown quarters and they have terrified me with fear, both me and my lawyer.
“But I know I am fighting a righteous course, it is my husband I am looking for my husband is a good man, I cannot abandon the course to find him, so whatever that comes, I know that God will protect me.
“I will keep appealing to the judiciary to do their best, they are my last hope to ensure that justice is served. It is bad enough, 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.”
Mrs. Agbasimalo while testifying in court said that the two suspects standing trial in the kidnap case collected N5 million on behalf of the alleged kidnappers for the release of her husband, but never released him.
She also said 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 of the release of the victim.
She recalled how the two accused persons, currently standing trial before the court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnap, initially admitted knowing the whereabouts of her husband while in police custody, but later denied knowing his whereabouts when they were charged to court.
She also said the accused persons were together with her husband before his kidnap, and had warned her husband’s family not to involve the security operatives and the media saying they were constantly in touch with the alleged kidnappers.
Mrs. Agbasimalo asserted that the suspects were either directly or indirectly involved in the kidnap of her husband on September 18, 2021.
The LP governorship candidate in the Anambra election, Agbasimalo, was kidnapped on September 18, 2021 at Lilu community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, while returning from a political function and has not been found till date.
After giving her testimony before the court for over two hours, Mrs Agbasimalo was further cross-examined by the defence counsels after which the judge adjourned the matter to January 19, 2024, for further hearing.
