Crime

FG arraigns two men for murder, kidnapping of prison official

Published

February 7, 2020

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The Federal Government has arraigned two men for the kidnapping and murder of an official of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Musa Dalhatu, before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The prosecution charged Bello Haruna and Shehu Abdullahi with offences of hostage taking, and acts of terrorism, contrary to sections 17, 15, and 1(2) of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.

They pleaded not guilty to the five counts preferred against them when the charges were read to them before Justice Binta Nyako on Wednesday.

The judge ordered their remand in the Kuje Correctional Centre and fixed April 8 for trial

The defendants’ lawyers did not file applications for their clients’ bail.

Haruna allegedly lured the victim to the point of the crime in Kwaita village in Kwali, on September 5, 2018.

The victim was said to have been lured under the pretext of an invitation to the location to inspect his cows.

The victim was said to have been held hostage and detained by Haruna, Abdullahi and others at large.

The defendants were said to have demanded N10m ransom from the victim’s family.

They allegedly got N2.2m from the family of the victim before they killed him on September 8, 2018.

The prosecution led by Mrs. Abidemi Adewumi-Aluko alleged that Abdullahi’s role in the alleged crime was to keep watch on the victim until the ransom was collected.

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