A High Court in Imo State has scheduled four consecutive days for the trial of five kidnapping suspects, with the judge urging counsel to cooperate to ensure judgment is delivered before January 2027.
Justice Emeka Orafu fixed October 27 to 30 for further proceedings in two separate cases involving three men accused of abducting 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members on Independence Day and two other defendants facing unrelated kidnapping charges.
Testifying in the case involving the prospective corps members, an officer of the Department of State Services, Ikem Emmanuel, said investigators relied on intelligence gathering, data analysis, record checks, interviews and statements from the defendants, victims and witnesses.
Emmanuel told the court that an identification parade was conducted, during which victims and witnesses identified the three defendants as members of the gang that allegedly abducted them.
He further testified that one of the defendants, Usman Aliyu, admitted in his statement to participating in the operation and allegedly disclosed that 11 people were involved.
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The DSS officer maintained that the defendants’ statements were obtained in the presence of their legal representatives and DSS legal officers.
In the separate case involving two other defendants, Emmanuel also testified about the investigation, stating that their statements were taken in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.
After the proceedings, Justice Orafu adjourned both cases to October 27, 28, 29 and 30 for continuation of hearing.
The judge also ordered that all five defendants remain in DSS custody.
Crediblenewsng.com
