At the resumed hearing of the kidnap case preferred against the Sarkin Fulani of Kwara State, Usman Adamu also known as Ardo, the second defendant, Giddado Mohammed told Justice Akinpelu Adenike of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin that he only facilitated the release of the one Abubakar Ahmadu who was arrested by the military following allegation of kidnap.
He said, “On the 6th of August, 2022 around 8:30pm, immediately after my prayer, one Ba’ami called me and said one boy, called Abubakar Ahmadu was missing and the family didn’t know whether he was in the custody of the military in Kwara or Abuja.
“I asked what was his offence and Ba’ami said he had to see the boy in order to confirm his offence. So, he called Ardo. The following morning, Ba’ami and Abubakar’s father, Ahmadu and two other people came to my residence at Kambi in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State. I told him his son is a kidnapper and why was he looking for him and he swore he didn’t know Abubakar is a kidnapper, I therefore told him the military would never arrest anyone without any offence.
Ahmadu then begged me to assist him to have access to his son which I informed the first defendant, Usman Adamu about.
“Days after, Ardo said we should meet at my house, so Ba’ami alongside two other people including Ardo, second defendant, Idrissa Adamu who is Ardo’s younger brother and the military personnel came for the meeting.
“Ardo then asked the soldiers on the level of investigation they have carried out on Abubakar Ahmadu and they said their investigation established that Abubakar was not involved in kidnapping.
“And the officers stated that the victim would be released if the family are ready. Abubakar’s father expressed his readiness to get his son released, so one of the soldiers asked the family to pay N10m as bail fee, but we later cut it down to N1m.
“Ahmadu told me that he had called his people to look for the money and pay Abubakar’s bail. Then, I called Ardo but he told me he was the Personal Assistants to Kwara State Commissioner of Police and Emir of Ilorin.
“After some days, one of the soldiers called me that they wanted to bring Abubakar which I informed Ba’ami about, so we finally agreed to meet at a roadside hotel at Kambi/Oloru and they handed Abubakar over to me but they asked me to come and see their boss with some of our people at Sobi Barracks around 12pm alongside the money so that they can beg him a on our behalf to accept the money the following morning.
“Along the line, Ba’ami removed One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,0000) from the money, saying they needed to buy fuel to transport themselves back.
“A day after, I received a call from one Sahun, a military officer, asking me to deliver the money to him and Ardo gave me the go ahead.
“Sahun also removed Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N350,000) from the remaining Nine Hundred Thousand Naira (N900,000), leaving the balance at Five Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira(N500,000). I was later invited by the DSS to show up at their office in Ilorin where I met Ardo and Abubakar’s family.
While being cross-examined the Director, Public Prosecution, Idowu Akande, the second defendant, Giddado Mohammed confirmed that no formal document was signed between them and the military.
He also admitted that the meeting between him, Ardo and military operatives at his residence in Kambi was illegal.
The trial judge then adjourned the case till October 5, 2023 for further hearing.
