Falae Kidnapping: Suspects Want Govt to Provide Legal Representation

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Six out of the seven suspects arraigned over the September 21 abduction of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Oluyemisi Falae, on Tuesday asked the Ondo State Government to provide them legal representation.

The request came at the resumed hearing of the case at an Akure High Court during which two additional suspects, Abdulkadir Umar and Babawuro Kato, were arraigned along with five others who were arraigned on October 15.

The duo of Umar and Kato were arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja while the five suspects earlier charged to court were apprehended by the police.

However, Abubakar Auta, was being represented by Mr. Ochai Jonathan Ogaba.
When the case came for hearing on Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) sought the approval of the court to withdraw the earlier charges preferred against the suspects to be replaced with new one.

Part of the charges preferred against the seven suspects read: “That you Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar, Babawo Kato and others now at large, on or about Monday September 21, 2015, at Kajola/Eyinala community in Akure judicial division did give information for the purpose of kidnapping and abducting Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae.”

“Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar, Babawo Kato and others now at large, on or about September 21, 2015, at Kajola/Eyinala community in Akure judicial division did kidnap Chief Oluyemi Falae, the former SFG of Nigeria and did not release him until N5,000,000 ransom was paid.

The offences, according to the prosecution, are contrary to Section 2 of Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 5(1) (a) of the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Laws, Section3(11)(b) of the Anti-Kidnapping and Abduction Law, Section 6(b) of the Robbery and Firearms(Special Provision) Act,Cap R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria,2004 and Section 1(2)(a) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act,Cap R11, Vol. 14, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, respectively.

The suspects, after the charges were translated to them in Hausa language, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecution team led by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Akinladapo Ogunleye, asked the court to give them few days to enable them present their witnesses.

The judge, Justice William Rotimi Olamide, adjourned the hearing of the case to December 2, and ordered that the seven suspects be remanded in prison custody until the next adjourned date.

Source: This Day