Abuja, NIGERIA – A critical breakthrough in the kidnapping of Obiora Agbasimalo, the Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the 2021 Anambra State election, was revealed during court proceedings on Friday. A Department of State Services (DSS) official, H.A. Nwagwu, testified that tracking technology played a pivotal role in the arrest of the prime suspects in the kidnapping, shedding new light on how technology is reshaping the fight against organized crime in Nigeria.
Nwagwu, a Principal Security Intelligence Officer with the DSS, took the stand as the seventh prosecution witness at the Anambra State High Court sitting in Nnewi. His testimony centered on the key role of mobile phone tracking and data analysis in uncovering the suspects’ movements and ultimately identifying those responsible for the 2021 abduction of Agbasimalo.
The shocking kidnapping occurred on September 18, 2021, in Lilu, Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra, as Agbasimalo was en route to a political function. His whereabouts have remained unknown, sparking widespread concern and anger in the region.
Nwagwu detailed how the DSS launched an intensive investigation after the initial report of the crime reached their office. He explained that the investigation involved interrogating principal suspects, including the victim’s wife, Eucharia Agbasimalo, as well as key witnesses and Agbasimalo’s running mate. This investigative process, according to Nwagwu, eventually led to the identification of two primary suspects: Chukwudi Odimegwu, the first defendant, and Maxwell Nwokolo, the second defendant.
The breakthrough came in April 2022, months after the kidnapping. Nwagwu explained that the DSS tracked Nwokolo to the Amuwo Odofin area in Lagos State, using technological tools to trace his movements, ultimately leading to his capture. The arrest of Nwokolo provided further clues that helped unravel the full scope of the crime, including the involvement of Odimegwu.
Both Odimegwu and Nwokolo stand trial on charges of conspiracy and kidnapping in connection with the crime. The DSS had initially arraigned them in 2022 before a Magistrate Court in Awka on two counts—conspiracy and kidnapping—following their alleged demand for a ransom totaling N7 million from Agbasimalo’s family. Despite receiving the ransom, Agbasimalo’s whereabouts have yet to be revealed, heightening the public outrage.
During his testimony, Nwagwu revealed damning details of the case, including the use of sophisticated tracking technology to link Odimegwu to the scene of the crime. He shared that through analysis of mobile phone data, the DSS uncovered that Odimegwu’s phone was active in the vicinity of Lilu between 2:00 pm and 3:00 pm on the day of the kidnapping. Further analysis showed that Odimegwu had been in the area several times before the incident, suggesting prior knowledge of the location.
In a crucial revelation, Nwagwu also explained how the DSS had tracked signals from both Agbasimalo and Odimegwu’s phones to the same region in Imo State on the day of the abduction. This forensic evidence, according to Nwagwu, was key in building a case against the suspects, with the technology confirming their roles in the kidnapping.
The prosecution’s case hinges on the evidence presented by Nwagwu, with hopes that this would lead to the unraveling of the mystery behind Agbasimalo’s continued disappearance. The charges against Odimegwu and Nwokolo remain serious, and if convicted, the two could face severe penalties under Nigerian law.
After an exhaustive cross-examination by defense counsels Francis Effiok and Ikenna Obidiegwu, the court adjourned the case to February 21, 2025, for further hearing. As the legal process unfolds, the case continues to attract widespread attention due to its high-profile nature and the implications it holds for the political landscape in Anambra.
With the future of Agbasimalo’s fate still uncertain, the pressure is on for the authorities to bring those responsible for this crime to justice.
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