Imo State Hig Court sitting in Owerri Tuesday admitted as exhibits the confessional statements, firearms and cash tendered by the Department of State Services, DSS, in the trial of five suspected kidnappers accused of abducting 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members on Independence Day.
The exhibits were admitted at the resumed hearing of the case, which proceeded on the testimony of Ikem Emmanuel, the first principal witness for the prosecution.
Emmanuel told the court that the defendants made confessional statements in which they admitted to conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms.
He tendered an audio-visual recording of the alleged confessions, the defendants’ written statements, the firearms recovered from them and money recovered from them.
Also Read: “I paid millions to free my son”, mother of NYSC member
In a ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, admitted the exhibits and directed that the arms and the money be kept in the custody of the DSS.
The witness insisted that the defendants’ statements were obtained in the presence of their legal representatives and DSS legal officers.
In a related case involving two other kidnap suspects, the same DSS officer gave evidence on the investigation, saying their confessional statements were taken under caution in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.
He tendered the audio-visual recording of those statements, the written statements and money recovered in naira, but could not tender his investigation report before proceedings ended for the day.
Justice Orafu adjourned both matters to October 28, 29 and 30 for continuation of hearing, and ordered that all five defendants remain in DSS custody.
Crediblenewsng.com
