An Ilorin High Court, presided over by Justice Adenike Akinpelu, has adjourned till May 22, the kidnap case against Sarkin Fulani of Ilorin, Hardo Usman Adamu, Idrissa Adamu and Gidado Mohammed for further hearing.
The three suspects are currently standing trial for allegedly kidnapping one Abubakar Ahmadu sometime in July, 2022 at Garin Alimi, Ilorin, Kwara State.
The City Gazette also gathered the kidnap victim allegedly paid a ransom of One Million Naira (N1,000,000) to the first defendant, Usman Adamu to secure his release.
During a cross examination by the lead defence counsel, AW Yahaya, the third defendant, Idrissa denied his involvement in the alleged kidnap of the victim, claiming that his statement (Exhibit 07) as presented to him for acknowledgement during court the proceeding was adulterated.
He furthered that he only received a call from his brother, the first defendant, informing him that the complainant (the victim) was on the trail of the military over allegation of kidnap within Ilorin metropolis and they needed to make arrangement for his arrest as leaders of Fulani community in Kwara.
The third defendant said, the complainant, was therefore arrested by three soldiers from Sobi Barracks in his presence and in the presence of the Commander, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Kwara State Chapter, Alhaji Saka known as Sarkin Daji, noting that he followed the military officers to the Barracks and ensured the complainant was locked up in a cell.
The Kwara State Director of Public Prosecution, Ayoola Idowu Akande, however, argued that Alhaji Saka against claim by the third defendant, had confirmed to the court that he was not present when the complainant was arrested by the military.
The DPP thereby said the third defendant is not “a witness of truth”.
He also put it to the court that the first and third defendants held a meeting in the house of the second defendant at Kanbi after the complaint was kidnapped.
