Kidnappers of UNIABUJA lecturers to be arraigned May 13

Cursory: A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled May 13 for the arraignment of four individuals linked to the kidnapping of University of Abuja lecturers and their children in 2021. The suspects, numbering over 20, forcibly entered the compound and abducted their victims. The defendants, face charges of terrorism for conspiring to abduct and hold the victims hostage for ransom.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has set May 13 as the date for the arraignment of four individuals apprehended in connection with the kidnapping of University of Abuja lecturers and their children in 2021. Gunmen raided the Senior Staff Quarters of the University of Abuja in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on November 2, 2021, and abducted at least six lecturers.

The suspects, numbering over 20, forcibly entered the compound and abducted their victims, including Bassey Ubom(including his son and daughter), Prof Joseph Adavani, Dr. Ferguson Tobins, Mohammed Sambo, Offiong Ubom, John Obansa, and Fidelis Obansa.

The scheduled arraignment on Monday was postponed due to the court’s vacation. The case, presided over by Justice Donatus Okorowo, has been adjourned until May 13. The defendants in the case are Adamu Abubakar, Nura Muhammed Ahmadu, Ismailia Abubakar, and Abdulrahman Ado, also known as Yellow.

The Federal Government, through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, has leveled two charges of terrorism against the defendants. They are accused of conspiring to abduct the aforementioned individuals and holding them hostage for three days in a forest, demanding a ransom of N300 million for their release.

These actions are in violation of Section 17 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013. Another count alleges that the defendants knowingly took the victims hostage and demanded ransom, contravening Section 15 of the same act.

“That you Adamu Abubakar, male, adult of Adamu Fulani House, behind Abattoir, Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT, Abuja; Nura Muhammed Ahmadu, male, adult of No. 3 Alhaji Rabiu Shop, Minna Main Market, Minna, Niger State; Ismailia Abubakar, male, adult of Adavi Village, Obajana LGA, Kogi State; Abdulrahman Ado (a.k.a YELLOW), male, adult of Dikko, along Kaduna Road, and others now at large on or about November 2, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court knowingly took hostage of Professor Joseph Sumaila Adavani; Dr Ferguson Tobins; Mohammed Sambo; Offiong Bassey Ubom; John Obansa and Fidelis Obansa from their homes at the University of Abuja Staff Quarters, Giri, Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja and took them into captivity in the coercive environment of the forest for three days and demanded a ransom of N300m for their release.“You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 of the Terrorism (Prevention)(Amendment) Act 2013.”

Credits: ALLSCHOOL, PUNCH

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