Kidnapped Kogi judge regains freedom after 34 days

Kidnapped Kogi judge regains freedom after 34 days

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A High Court Judge in Kogi State, Justice Samuel Obayomi, who was kidnapped by three gunmen on Monday, May 25, has been released.
His release came after 34 days in the kidnappers’ den.
Obayomi, who is a resident High Court Judge of Ebogogo in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi State, was abducted at about 8:45am on his way to the office by the gang, who were reportedly all dressed in black.

During the kidnap operation, the judge’s  police orderly, Mr. Usman Musa, was shot dead on the spot while the kidnappers drove away the judge in his Toyota Yaris car.
The gang later demanded N150m ransom for the judge’s release.
In protest against the continued captivity of the judge, lawyers in the state withdrew from court sessions.

The state Governor, Capt. Idris Wada, later promised a bounty of N5m to anybody with useful information leading to the rescue of the judge.
But on Sunday, the state  Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Ogunjemilusi, told journalists in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, that Obayomi was released on  Saturday between 10 and 11:30 pm.
He stated that the released judge had been taken to a safe place but was yet to be released to his family.

The CP, however, declined information on how and where  the judge was released.
He also declined to say whether  any ransom was paid or not.
Also, the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Nasir Ajanah, confirmed the release of the judge.
“The kidnapped judge has been released. We thank God for that but I cannot give you more information than you already have,” Ajanah said.