The Imo State High Court has scheduled four consecutive days for the trial of five men accused of kidnapping prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, urging lawyers on both sides to work towards concluding the cases before January 2027.
The court fixed October 27 to 30 for the continuation of
proceedings in the two cases, which involve three defendants accused of
abducting 20 prospective corps members on Independence Day and two others
facing charges in a separate kidnapping case.
Justice Emeka Orafu, who presided over the cases on
Thursday, called on the prosecution and defence teams to cooperate with the
court to ensure a timely conclusion.
During the hearing, an officer of the Department of State
Services, DSS, Ikem Emmanuel, testified about the investigation that led to the
arrest of the three defendants in the case involving the prospective corps
members.
Emmanuel told the court that investigators relied on
intelligence gathering, data analysis, record checks, interviews and statements
obtained from the defendants, victims and witnesses.
He said an identification parade was also conducted, during
which victims and witnesses identified the defendants as members of the gang
allegedly responsible for the abduction.
The DSS officer further testified that one of the
defendants, Usman Aliyu, admitted in his statement to taking part in the
operation. According to the investigator, Aliyu allegedly disclosed that 11
people were involved in the kidnapping.
Emmanuel maintained that the defendants made their
statements in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.
In the separate case involving two other defendants, the
officer also gave evidence concerning the investigation, stating that their
statements were recorded 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 further hearing.
The judge also ordered that all five defendants remain in
DSS custody pending the continuation of their trials.
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