It was not until Saturday, June 27, that the Kogi State High Court judge, Justice Samuel Obayomi, kidnapped by gunmen on May 25, could breath the air of freedom. By then, he has spent 34 days in his abductors’ custody.
According to Vanguard, the state Commissioner for Police, Ogunjemilusi, who confirmed his release, said the judge was released in the night between 10:00 and 11:30.
He did not say where and how the judge was released or if any ransom was paid, but disclosed that he had been taken to a safe place even as he was yet to be released to his family.
The Chief Judge of Kogi State, Ajanah, while confirming Obayomi’s release, said, “We thank God for that but I cannot give you more information than you already have.”
An unconfirmed source said N30 million was paid as ransom.
Vanguard reports that the judge has not fully recovered apparently from the maltreatment he received in the hands of his abductors. He is said to be on admission in a private hospital attached to the Government House. He is yet to be fully reunited with his family. For now, the family only has limited access to him at the hospital. Their joy of seeing him has been cut short by the sickness he developed; a situation that explains why the police could not hand him over to the family.
Meanwhile, Obayomi has been quoted by a family source as saying the kidnappers treated him like a leper. The source said the kidnappers, aside the intimidation and harassment, were throwing food at him from the door. “He said sometimes the food will spill to the floor and they will still ask him to eat it”, the source narrated.
According to Vanguard, the judge’s driver, Kolawole, is still languishing in police custody. Their (police) reason is simply because they cannot explain the rationale behind the kidnappers killing the orderly and leaving the driver. The driver’s family, which had thought that the abducted judge’s freedom will pave the way for his release has been dashed. (Vanguard Ngr).