Activist, Mechanic Arraigned For Kidnapping Judge

A 72-year-old veteran journalist and rights activist, Pa
Ahmed Adoke, and 41-year-old mechanic, Mr. John Sule, were on Wednesday
arraigned by the Kogi State Police Command for allegedly kidnapping a state
High Court judge, Justice Samuel Obayomi.

Adoke, who is said to be related to the immediate past
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke, and
Sule   were arraigned before the Lokoja Chief Magistrate’s Court II
presided over by Mr. Alhassan Husaini. They were alleged to have on May 25,
along with others now at large, conspired, armed themselves with offensive
weapons and kidnapped the judge.

Obayomi, a resident High Court Judge of Ebogogo in the Adavi
Local Government Area of Kogi State, was abducted by three gunmen, all
reportedly dressed in black on May 25. The victim was released after 34 days in
the kidnappers’ den.

During the kidnap, the judge’s police orderly, Mr. Usman
Musa, was shot dead while the kidnappers drove away the judge in his Toyota
Yaris car and later demanded N150m as ransom for the victim’s release.

According to the Police First Information Report made
available to journalists in Lokoja, the accused persons wielding AK-47 rifles
and locally made pistols disguised themselves and waylaid the judge on Ebogogo
road, close to the court premises.

The FIR, which was read by the Prosecuting Police Officer,
Mr. C.S. Ayabatu, said that the gang instantly shot   Musa, who died
on the spot.

They allegedly took the judge to an unknown destination only
to release him after allegedly collecting a ransom.

The FIR added that the accused were arrested on June 6, by a
team of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad from Abuja and brought to the state
Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Lokoja.

According to Ayabatu, the two accused persons all from Okene
in Okene LGA of Kogi State, were charged with criminal conspiracy, culpable
homicide and kidnapping contrary to sections 97(1) and 221 of the Penal Code
Law and Part 1 section 3(a)(i)(ii) of the state Kidnapping, Thuggery and Other
Related Offences Prohibition Law 2010.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the offences.

Adoke’s counsel, Mr. Muazu Abbas, orally applied that the
accused be granted bail.

But, Ayabatu vehemently opposed the bail application, saying
the offences were not bailable.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Alhassan Husain, in his ruling
refused the accused persons bail and ordered that they be remanded at the
Federal Prisons, Koton-Karfe.

Punch