The 28-year old Nigerian national suspected to have masterminded the alleged kidnap of unspecified number of young girls in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, was today, Wednesday, charged by a Takoradi District Court with three counts of escaping lawful custody, causing damage to public property and resisting arrest.
The suspect, Samuel Udoetuk Wills was in cell assisting investigation into the disappearance of his victims from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, but with the help of an outsider, he managed to cut the iron rods in the ventilation window of the cell and escaped on 30th December. He was however rearrested on 3rd January, 2019.
The suspected kidnapper was brought to the Takoradi District Court today, Wednesday, under a heavy police guard. The Presiding Judge, His Worship Michael Kudjo Ampadu, commenced proceedings by taking accounts from police officers who were on duty as to what exactly transpired on the day of his escape.
A lead investigator, Detective Inspector Austin Adjei, then submitted exhibits of the Hacksaw blades the suspect used to cut three iron rods in the ventilation window of the cell, as well as the iron rods which were later found by the investigators.
Suspect Sam Udoetuk Wills admitted to the investigators’ account of his escape, his statement, and named one Kwesi Ablade as the one who brought him the blade he used in cutting the iron rod for his escape.
“I gave my phone to a passer-by from the window to call Kwesi for me on 26th December, 2018. On 29th December, Kwesi came to leave the blades in the cell window and managed to cut three of the iron rods and on 30th December, I escaped from cell”.
The 28th year old Nigerian who admitted every exhibit submitted by investigators had only one request to Judge Ampadu, and that was a plea for his cloths to be brought to him to enable him change.
The Presiding Judge, Michael Kudjo Ampadu, advised relatives of the kidnapped victims namely Ruth Quayson, Priscilla Boakye and Priscilla Korankye who were present at the court to have patience with police investigators.
His worship Ampadu said “this case is not to look into the substantive matter of kidnapping, but to punish him for escaping lawful custody, damaging public property and resisting arrest. We shall later look into the main case of kidnapping, so you shouldn’t leave here disappointed; so the case is adjourned to 28th January”.
The police had to whisk away the suspect to avoid any clash with the teaming numbers of friends and families of the victims who are still seeking answers on the whereabouts of the kidnapped girls.