An Imo State High Court will deliver judgment on December 16 in the trial of three men accused of involvement in the kidnapping of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps members.
Justice Emeka Orafu fixed the date on Friday after the defence closed its case. The defendants, Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu and Mohamed Ali are facing charges in suit HOU/22C/2026 over the alleged abduction of the young people who were travelling to their orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom States.
The defence lawyers announced the close of their case after the third defence witness, Mohamed Ali, finished giving evidence. Justice Orafu praised counsel on both sides for their conduct as the trial progressed.
He ordered the defence to file its final written address within seven days from Saturday, November 7. The prosecution has five days from Saturday, November 14, to respond. The matter was adjourned to November 24 for adoption of the addresses before judgment on December 16.
Mohamed Ali, who testified as DW3, told the court he is from Kogi State and tends cattle at Kara in Aba. He said he knew nothing about the kidnapping and was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services while sitting at Kara. He was then taken to Owerri and detained.
Under examination by his counsel, Pascal Oforma, Ali said he did not know the other two defendants. Cross-examined by Director of Public Prosecutions Martins Udolwu, he confirmed he had lived in Aba for about two years, worked as a herdsman and did not enter any forest. He said two boys take his cattle out in the morning and return them in the evening.
Ali told the court he knew the first defendant from the mosque but did not know the second defendant. The court erupted in laughter when he first claimed he had been beaten before an audio-visual recording of his statement and then quickly withdrew the claim, saying DSS officers only tried to beat him but did not succeed.
He confirmed he made one written statement and filled one form in the presence of his counsel.
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