The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has taken over the prosecution of the alleged Taraba State kidnap kingpin, Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume, alongside 19 others.
Prosecuting counsel from the AGF office, Labaran Magaji, appeared in the case for the first time on Wednesday and told Justice Binta Nyako that his office took over the case and received the case file from the police on Tuesday.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, had on February 3, 2020, slammed 16 counts of terrorism, murder, kidnapping, and illegal arms running against the 20 defendants, among whom are two police officers and 10 soldiers.
Only six of the 20 defendants, including Wadume, were present in court on Wednesday.
The 10 soldiers among the defendants were absent on Wednesday, a repeat of the scenario when the case was first mentioned in court on March 16, 2020.
The counsel who was at the time prosecuting the case on IGP’s behalf, Simon Lough, had informed Justice Nyako on March 16 that the army failed to release the soldiers for arraignment.
The judge then ordered the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, to release the 10 defendants to the police.
Mr Magaji, during Wednesday’s proceedings, requested an adjournment to enable him to make moves for the production of all the defendants in court.
“In the circumstances, we shall be asking for a short adjournment for the purpose of bringing all the suspects named in the charge.
“The prosecution shall do the needful to ensure that the case takes off immediately,” he said.
The soldiers among the defendants are Captain Tijjani Balarabe, Staff Sgt. David Isaiah; Sgt. Ibrahim Mohammed; Corporal Bartholomew Obanye; Private Mohammed Nura; Lance Corporal Okorozie Gideon; Corporal Markus Michael; L/Corporal Nvenaweimoeimi Akpagra; and Staff Sgt. Abdullahi Adamu, and Private Ebele Emmanuel.
The other 10 defendants are Wadume, ASP Aondona Iorbee, Inspector Aliyu Dadje, Auwalu Bala, aka Omo Razor, Uba Bala (aka Uba Belu); Ahmad Suleiman (aka Dan Ball); Bashir Waziri, (aka Baba runs); Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho); Hafizu Bala (aka Maiwelder); and Rayyanu Abdul.
The judge adjourned the matter till June 8.
