A Department of State Services (DSS) official, H.A. Nwagwu, has testified in court that the use of tracking technology played a crucial role in the arrest of one of the suspects charged with the alleged kidnapping of the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the 2021 Anambra State election, Obiora Agbasimalo.
Nwagwu appeared before Justice C.N. Mbonu-Nwenyi at the Anambra State High Court sitting in Nnewi, serving as the seventh prosecution witness (PW7) at the resumed hearing of the case on Friday.
He told the court that the DSS intensified efforts after being notified of the kidnap by interviewing the principal suspects and witnesses, including the victim’s wife, Eucharia Agbasimalo.
According to him, the DSS’s efforts and interventions helped identify and track down key figures in the alleged kidnapping, including the two suspects—Chukwudi Odimegwu (first defendant) and Maxwell Nwokolo (second defendant)—who are currently standing trial before the Nnewi High Court 1.
While testifying, Nwagwu, a Principal Security Intelligence Officer at the DSS, revealed that investigations began in April 2022, leading to the arrest of Nwokolo in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State, which in turn led to the capture of another suspect.
The LP candidate, Agbasimalo, was kidnapped on September 18, 2021, in the Lilu community, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, while on his way to a political function. His whereabouts remain unknown to date.
In Suit No. HIH/15C/22, the accused persons, Odimegwu and Nwokolo, are standing trial for alleged conspiracy and kidnapping of Agbasimalo on September 18, 2021, in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.
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The Department of State Services first arraigned the accused persons before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Awka, the state capital, in 2022 under Charge No. MAW/506/2022 on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.
The prosecution stated that the offences were contrary to Sections 495 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 36, Vol. II, Revised Laws of Anambra State of Nigeria, 1991, and 315 (2) (a) (b) (c) of the Criminal Code (Amended) Law of Anambra State of Nigeria, 2009.
The Magistrate’s Court, while remanding them in prison custody, also ordered the police to transfer the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
Upon receiving the case file, the DPP maintained the same two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping.
In the charge prepared by N.J. Nwankwo Esq., the DPP alleged that while armed with guns and other offensive weapons, the accused persons kidnapped Agbasimalo against his will and demanded a ransom of N1 million, N5 million, and another N1 million, totaling N7 million, from his family for his release. However, despite receiving the ransom, they failed to release him.
During his testimony, Nwagwu said, “Around April 2022, a report of the kidnap of the LP governorship candidate was received at our office. He was allegedly kidnapped on September 18, 2021.
“So, we had to invite the victim’s wife, Eucharia Agbasimalo, for an interview. One Godwin Agbasimalo, also known as ‘Oga Ndi Oga,’ and some other persons were also invited. We further questioned the victim’s running mate.
“We interviewed Maxwell Nwokolo, and he disclosed that he escaped from the camp where the LP candidate was being held. He said Agbasimalo’s brother paid for his transportation to Lagos, where he stayed in Amuwo Odofin.
“Before then, we had tracked him through a technological device to Amuwo Odofin in Lagos, where he was arrested and brought back to Anambra.
“During our investigation, we analyzed data records from the victim’s driver, Chukwudi Odimegwu’s mobile phone. We observed that the incident took place between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. on that fateful day around Lilu in Ihiala LGA.
“We also discovered that Odimegwu was in possession of an iPhone 8 at the time and was receiving signals from the Orlu axis of Imo State. Additionally, we noticed that he had been within the vicinity of the kidnapping site about seven times before the incident, indicating familiarity with the location.
“Analysis of Obiora’s mobile phone also showed that he was receiving signals from the same axis, which was where his phone last transmitted data.”
The DSS officer, who took the witness stand at about 10:20 a.m., finished his testimony at 1:48 p.m. and was rigorously cross-examined by defense counsels Francis Effiok and Ikenna Obidiegwu.
After the cross-examination, the trial judge adjourned the matter to February 21, 2025, for further hearing.
