13th July, 2015
A Lokoja Chief Magistrates’ Court has ordered the remand of a 33-year-old herdsman, Umaru Abubakar for alleged kidnap of one Seriki Samaila, and demanding N3 million ransom.
Chief Magistrate Alhassan Husaini gave the order on Monday in Lokoja, when the accused was arraigned in court.
According to the prosecutor, Cpl. Akinboye Kunle, the victim, Samaila, reported the matter at that the Kabba Divisional Police Headquarters, two days after his release from the kidnappers’ den.
Kunle said that the accused, in company of three others at about 3 a.m. on May 27, invaded Samaila’s camp at Oke-Offin, Bunu in Kabba Local Government and abducted him.
He said that the four men criminally conspired, and armed with offensive weapons including guns and cutlasses, “invaded the camp violently and forcefully abducted Samaila at gun-point.”
Kunle said one of them was later identified as Umaru Abubakar.
The prosecutor said that the victim was taken to an unknown destination, where they tied his hands and feet and demanded N3 million for his release.
He said that one of the relatives of the victim, Salihu Umar was contacted to pay the money, but he pleaded with them and paid N500, 000.
Kunle said investigation led to the arrest of Umar with a cutlass and a wooden carved gun recovered from him, adding that the other three were at still at large.
He said that investigation into the matter was in progress and applied for another date for mention of the case.
In his ruling, Husaini said he was inclined to transfer the case to Kabba for the convenience of the parties, pursuant to Section 147 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
He transferred the case to the Chief Magistrates’ Court, Kabba and adjourned the matter till July 22, for further mention in Kabba.