Trial Of Wadume, Others: AGF Drops 10 Army Personnel, A Policeman From Prosecution

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Attorney-General of the Federation that last week, took over the prosecution of the kidnapping Kingpin in Taraba State, Bala Hamisu popularly known as Wadume, on Monday dropped the names of 10 Army personnel and a police officer believed to be accomplices in a case of Kidnap and murder.

At the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the number of those standing trial suddenly dropped from 20 to seven just as the number of count charges dropped from 16 to 13.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Mr Abubakar Malami SAN, on June 3, 2020, took over the criminal case from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu.

The Army personnel soldiers, whose names were dropped from the amended charges include Captain Tijjani Balarabe, Staff Sgt. David Isaiah; Sgt. Ibrahim Mohammed; Staff Sgt. Abdullahi Adamu, Corporal Bartholomew Obanye; Private Mohammed Nura; Lance Corporal Okorozie Gideon; Corporal Markus Michael; L/Corporal Nvenaweimoeimi Akpagra and Private Ebele Emmanuel.

Also dropped from the earlier listed of defendants is a police officer – ASP Aondona Iorbee in addition to the name of Ahmad Suleiman popularly known as Dan Ball.

The defence lawyers for the remaining defendants did not oppose the amendment on Monday.

Following the approval of the amendment by the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako, the amended 13 counts were read to the remaining seven defendants.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After hearing the plea of not guilty by the defendants, Justice Nyako adjourned the case to June 22, 2020 for trial and possibly the hearing of the defendants’ bail applications.

The list of those left to face trial include Inspector Aliyu Dadje, who was a station officer at the Police headquarters, Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State, Bala Hamisu Wadume, Auwalu Bala, aka Omo Razor, Uba Bala (aka Uba Belu); Bashir Waziri, (aka Baba runs); Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho); Hafizu Bala (aka Maiwelder) and Rayyanu Abdul.