Gunmen Abduct A High Court Judge In Bayelsa

 

A High Court Judge of Bayelsa State known as Justice E.G. Umokoro  has been abducted by Unknown Gunmren  from an eatery around  the Ekeki area of  Bayelsa State.

Abducted  on Saturday around 7pm, the judge   was said to have put up a struggle before he was taken away by men who were said to be on Police Uniforms.

 It was gathered that he was in company of two of his daughters to buy bread from the eatery before the gunmen struck.

Eyewitnesses at the eatery and across at Ekeki Park, confirmed that the abducted judge was trailed to the eatery by armed men  who were dressed in full Police Combatant Regalia with mask covering their faces.

 A source that  didn't want his name mentioned said:"Two of the men  came  down from the Nissan Hilux vehicle and tapped on the  glass of the car which was rolled down by the judge who was on call with his mobile phone.

The  eyewitness claimed  he overheard the men telling the Judge that "our Oga wants to see you", but the Judge answered them that " Are you aware am a judge?  Tell your Oga to come and see me here."

"The two armed men  walked away from his vehicle and made some calls to an unknown person. They  later came in three knocking loudly on the judge's car and forcefully opened the door and dragged him down according to the witness.

 But the  judge, who seemed offended it was learnt was seen struggling with the gunmen, while passers by watched in awe.

He was eventually forced into the white Nissan Hilux vehicle after much struggle they said  lasted over 50 minutes it was learnt.

Some staff of the eatery however told newsmen that, in the midst of the struggle, the Judge's mobile phone and a pouch containing his Identity Cards, ATM Cards and National ID Cards fell and two mobile phones from some of the abductors.

Police source at the Ekeki Divisional Headquarters, also corroborated the claims, insisting that a passer by picked up the Judge's phone and handed it to the police.

Contacted on the development, the Spokesman of the Bayelsa State Police Command, Mohammed Musa Confirmed the development and said the command have stated discreet investigation into the development.

Recall that Justice Umokoro

usually drives himself around town without designated security during off duty. He was also a one time State Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association.

Justice Umokoro is also described as an activist judge who had also had a brush with the men of the Bayelsa Police Command over some judicial decisions involving  the  release of some  suspected  kidnappers on alleged technical grounds.