By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Edwin Uwa Ogbonna, a Nigerian, made another court appearance on Thursday, January 9, 2025, before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No. 1.
Ogbonna faces charges related to alleged kidnapping and possession of cocaine and ‘Kush’.
The accused was arraigned on ten counts, including kidnapping, possession of prohibited drugs, dealing in prohibited drugs, and using prohibited drugs, all contrary to the laws of Sierra Leone.
The indictment states that on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at Juba Hill in Freetown, Ogbonna allegedly kidnapped Monsuru Abayomi Balogun. Additionally, he is accused of possessing various prohibited drugs, including loose cocaine, one sachet of Kush, and one sachet of cannabis sativa, all without lawful authority.
Ogbonna is also charged with dealing in Kush, cannabis sativa, and cocaine on the same date and location, and using these prohibited drugs without lawful authority.
Led in evidence by state prosecutor I. A. Kamara, witness Ibrahim Dumbuya, an investigator attached to the Lumley police station, testified that he recognized the accused in the dock and recalled the events of the said date. Dumbuya stated that he was on duty when a kidnapping case was reported at the station, and the address was provided.
Based on the information received, Dumbuya and other police officers visited the crime scene at Juba. Upon arrival at the premises of the accused, they discovered seven Sierra Leonean passports, one Liberian passport, and two ECOWAS passports, all bearing the name Edwin Uwa Ogbonna. They also found quantities of hand gloves and face masks, one scaling machine, one old damaged phone, $300, and 1,500 naira notes.
The police witness further testified that after checking the house of the accused, they went outside the compound and saw a black jeep with registration number LMK 002, which the accused admitted belonged to him.