16th February, 2024
Talatu Maiwada
Six suspects who admitted kidnapping one Kenneth and collecting N2m ransom from his relatives before they set him free were on Friday before a Jimeta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Yola, Adamawa State capital by the police.
The six suspects identified as Jido Saleh,30, Babaji Ibrahim,34, Umaru Saleh,28, Mohammed Buba,29, Ndajo Ali,30 and Garba Manu, 26, all of Kojoli Village, Jaba LGA, Adamawa, pleaded guilty to two-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and kidnapping before Chief Magistrate Musa Adamu.
The suspects in their respective oral statements confessed to the crime, saying “We are truly kidnappers, we conspired among ourselves and kidnapped one Kenneth from Kojoli.
“We took him to an unknown destination and collected a ransom of N2 million from his relatives before we released him.
bUT the Magistrate ordered that the defendants be remanded at the correctional center until Feb.29, for further investigation into the matter by the police.
“This case has been adjourned to Feb.29, to enable the police finish their investigation and to forward the case file to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP)for legal advice,” the Chief Magistrate said.
Earlier, the prosecution counsel , Sgt. Umar Abdullahi told the court that a credible and reliable intelligence was received by the police on Feb.5 at about 9:00 p.m.
Abdullahi said the information was about the violent crimes and kidnapping activities happening within Jada LGA, and it’s environs.
According to the prosecutor, on receipt of the information, operatives of the Nigeria Police Force attached to crack squad Yola, swung into action.
He said that the force team collaborated with the vigilante of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Jada chapter to arrest the defendants.
Abdullahi said that during police investigation, all suspects confessed to the crime adding that the offense contravened sections 60 and 248 of the penal code law of the Adamawa state 2018.
He further prayed the court for a date to finish investigation and to forward the case file to DPP for legal advice.
The Chief Magistrate granted the application and ordered that the suspects be remanded in correctional center, until the next adjourned date, Feb.29 .(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)