TWO new suspects were, yesterday, arraigned before an Akure High Court over the kidnap of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Chief Olu Falae. They are Abdulkadir Umar and Babawuro Kato.

The suspects were arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, in Abuja while the five suspects earlier charged to court were apprehended by a special Police team put together by the Inspector General, Solomon Arase.

The Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, yesterday at the resumption of the case, informed the court of his decision to withdraw the earlier charges preferred against the suspects and replace them with new one.

Charges

The charges preferred against the seven suspects read: “That you, Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar, Babawo Kato and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did give information for the purpose of kidnapping and abducting Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae.

“That the suspects and others, now at large, on or about the same date, at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did aid the kidnapping and abduction of Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae.

“Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar, Babawo Kato and others now at large, on or about Monday, September 21 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did kidnapped Chief Oluyemi Falae, the former Secretary to the Federation Government of Nigeria and did not release him until N5,000,000 ransom was paid.

“Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar and Babawo Kato and others now at large, on or about the same date, at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did rob Chief Olu Falae of N15,000 and his handset while armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.”

The offences, according to the prosecution, are contrary to Section 2 of Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 5(1) (a) of the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Laws, Section 3(11)(b) of the Anti-Kidnapping and Abduction Law, Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, Cap R11, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

‘Not guilty’

The suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were translated to them in Hausa language.

Six of the suspects requested that government should provide lawyer for them.

One of them, Abubakar Auta, was represented by Ochai Jonathan Ogaba.

The prosecution team, led by the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Akinladapo Ogunleye, asked the court to give them few days to enable them present their witnesses.

Presiding judge, Justice William Olamide, adjourned the case to December 2 and  ordered that the suspects be kept in prison custody until the adjourned date.

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