A Bayelsa State High Court has remanded a 39-year-old suspect in the June 2025 kidnap of Justice E.G. Omukoro in prison custody.

The court adjourned the case until July 14 for further hearing.

The accused, Ogbonna-Otu Emizibo Dennis, popularly known as "Ogbono," was arraigned before Justice I. Eradiri of High Court 4 in Yenagoa.

He is standing trial in Suit No. BYHC/YHC/CR/44/2026.

Dennis faces four counts of conspiracy to commit felony, kidnapping, conspiracy to inflict grievous harm, and attempted murder.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Following his plea, the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Peretimi Judith Peterside, Esq., applied for his remand pending trial.

Justice Eradiri granted the application and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody.

Operatives of the Bayelsa Police Command's Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU), led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, and officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) previously arrested eight suspects.

The suspects were linked to the abduction of the Bayelsa High Court judge.

Dennis was subsequently identified as one of the alleged kidnappers who had earlier been declared wanted.

Police sources said VCRU operatives mounted surveillance around his Yenagoa residence for more than five months before arresting him upon his return.

Investigators said the suspect, who claimed to be a postgraduate student, was identified by Justice Omukoro during an identification parade.

He was also alleged to have supplied the white Toyota Hilux reportedly used during the abduction.

During interrogation, Dennis allegedly claimed he returned the vehicle to its owner, a retired Brigadier General, after completing a driving assignment.

However, investigators said a close family member disputed the claim, alleging he still possessed the vehicle when the judge was kidnapped.

Police further alleged that Dennis owns a house along School Road, Edepie, Yenagoa.

The property was allegedly used by the gang as a planning base before the abductions of hotel owner Aladei Godsave and Justice Omukoro.

Investigators also recovered a motorcycle from the suspect's compound during the operation.

Police alleged the motorcycle belonged to dismissed Police Sergeant Obrientele Ebiarede, who remains wanted.

According to investigators, the motorcycle was used to purchase food and other supplies for kidnap victims held at the gang's camp in the Orkaki bush.

The camp is located along the boundary between Bayelsa and Rivers states.

Justice E.G. Omukoro was abducted by masked gunmen in Yenagoa on June 21, 2025.

The assailants reportedly intercepted his vehicle with a white Toyota Hilux before taking him away.

He spent 12 days in captivity before regaining his freedom unharmed on July 3, 2025.

Police investigations led to the arrest of several suspects, including some apprehended in Ekeremor Local Government Area.

Some of the suspects allegedly told investigators that the judge was not their original target but was held captive for nearly two weeks after the abduction.

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