A kidnap suspect yesterday owned up to the crime in a Yenagoa court. The Department of State Services (DSS) had arraigned Forcebray Ebiene over his alleged role in the kidnap and murder of late Chief Benson Ayerite Adigio-Eseni, a retired Major and uncle to former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva.

Ebiene, aged 27, was arraigned at the Brass Division of the High Court sitting in Yenagoa, capital o Bayelsa State, presided over by Justice E. T. Okara, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and kidnapping of late Major Adigioo-Eseni.

The offences, according to the DSS, are punishable by death under the state anti kidnapping law.

However the matter was adjourned to December 8 by the presiding judge and the suspect remanded at the Federal Prison Okaka, to enable him get a defence counsel.

Ebiene, who confessed to the crime, was arrested at Ahoada in Rivers State, where he had gone to access his account, by DSS operatives, who had been on his trail.

The suspect, who claimed to be an indigene of Brass in an interview with newsmen before he was docked said though he got N800,000 as his own share from the ransom, he did not know the victim was an uncle to the former governor and begged the family of the deceased for forgiveness.

“I accept responsibility for my action but I am begging the family for forgiveness. Please have mercy on me,” he begged the deceased family.