On Thursday, April 16, 2026, two men were sentenced to death by hanging by a High Court of Bayelsa State, following their alleged involvement in the abduction of one Mrs Grace Omietimi.
The court sitting in Yenagoa found Felix Oburu and Anthony Kio Eligwe guilty of abducting Omietimi, mother of Dr. James Omietimi, who is the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre FMC, Yenagoa in September 17, 2017.
According to the judgment, the convicts were said to have carried out the crime with accomplices still at large.
Felix Oburu is a native of Omoku Community in Ogbia/Egbema Local Government Area while Anthony Kio Eligwe is from Oyigba Community in Ahoada West Local Government Area, both in Rivers State.
During the trial, evidence showed that the victim was held captive for several weeks in Oyigba Community before being released after a ransom was paid.
Omietimi later identified one of the convicts as the person in whose residence she was detained.
Operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) apprehended the suspects following intelligence-led investigations that tracked their movements.
In her ruling, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Hon. Justice Matilda A. Ayemieye, found the two guilty and imposed the death sentence on both defendants.
“Delivering judgment in Charge No. YHC/60C/218, in the case of The State v. Felix Oburu & Anthony Kio Eligwe, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Hon. Justice Matilda A. Ayemieye, upheld the prosecution’s case, found the defendants guilty as charged, and sentenced them to death by hanging.
“During the trial, the prosecution presented the victim, Mrs. Grace Omietimi, who gave a detailed account of her ordeal. She identified the second defendant, Mr. Anthony Kio Eligwe, as the individual in whose residence she was held throughout her captivity.
“Her testimony was corroborated by the Investigating Officer from the DSS, Bayelsa State Command, who narrated how the suspects were tracked and arrested.”
On his part, the Bayelsa State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Biriyai Dambo, SAN, who in his reaction welcomed the verdict, described it as a reaffirmation of the state’s zero-tolerance policy towards kidnapping and related crimes.
Dambo assured residents of government’s continued commitment to the enforcement of justice and the rule of law.
Further, he noted that the prosperity administration under the governor, Senator Douye Diri remained resolute in safeguarding lives and property across the state.
