Court Remands 4 Suspects For Alleged Murder, Kidnapping

An FCT High Court on Tuesday
ordered the remand of four
suspects for alleged killing of a
businessman, Mbanefo Stephen and
kidnapping of an Abuja-based
lawyer, Ben Chuks.
The defendants – Umaru Adamu,
Isiaka Yunusa, Sefianu Musa, and
Abubakar Umaru – were charged
with conspiracy to commit felony,
robbery with violence, demanding
money with ransom and murder.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports
that they had pleaded not guilty to
the charges when they were
arraigned on January 6th.
At the resumed hearing in the trial,
Justice Othman Musa ordered that
the defendants be returned to Kuje
prison following a request for
adjournment by their lawyer,
Suleiman Yakubu.
Yakubu who said he had just been
handed over the case file pleaded
for the adjournment to enable him
get the details.
The judge adjourned the case till
June 28th for hearing.
The prosecution counsel, James
Idachaba had told the court that the
defendants carried out the act
when their victims were discussing
business at a relaxation joint in the
FCT.
Idachaba, of the legal unit, FCT
Police Command alleged that the
defendants robbed their victim and
made away with their belongings.
He said the suspects killed Stephen,
in the process of dragging with
them and also kidnapped Chuks.
Idachaba said that the suspects
demanded N8 million as ransom
for the release of Chuks from their
custody.
He said the Chuks’ family members
paid N7 million before he was
released on May 8th.
The prosecutor said when the
matter was reported to the Police,
they swung into action, arrested the
suspects in Apo and recovered the
ransom paid to them.
He said the offences contravene
Section 6(b) of the Robbery and
Firearms (Special Provision) Act,
Section 1(b) Laws of the Federation
of Nigeria 2004 and sections 272
and 220 of the Penal Code Law.