The Federal High Court, Abuja has admitted six guns in evidence, including AK47 rifles, in the trial of alleged Taraba kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala, alias Wadume and six others.
Wadume and the others are standing trial on charges of terrorism and kidnapping.
When the trial came up on Monday, the sixth prosecution witness who is an Inspector, Samuel Habila, attached to the Intelligence Response Team at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, told the court that the rifles were recovered from the defendants in the course of the investigation.
He also told that court that during investigation, it was discovered that the 5th defendant in the matter, Baba Runs, accompanied the soldiers who attacked the police vehicle that carried Wadume after he was arrested, killing three operatives and two civilians.
However, the prosecution counsel, Yetunde Adeola-Cole sought to tender the statements made by the defendants, but counsel for the defendants, Ishaku Dikko, Lukman Fagbemi and Amanzi Amanzi all objected on the grounds that the Hausa version of their clients’ statements which were translated into English were not before the court.
Testyfing at the trial-within-trial, the defendants, Aliyu Daju told the court that after he was arrested, he was forced to make a statement, while Zubairu Abdullahi told the court that he was tortured and forced to admit to what he knew nothing about.
The trial Judge, Justice Binta Nyako adjourned the matter until July 15 for continuation of trial.
Other defendants are: Auwalu Bala (aka Omo Razor); Uba Bala (aka Uba Delu), Bashir Waziri (aka Baba Runs), and Rayyanu Abdul.
Wadume was first arrested in Ibi, Taraba State, by policemen from the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of the Police
on Aug. 6, 2019.
Also Read: Absence of Judge stalls trial of Wadume, 6 others
The alleged kidnapper was being conveyed from Ibi to Jalingo, when some soldiers, led by Capt. Tijjani Balarabe shot at them, killing three of the policemen to free Wadume from custody.
(Editor: Ifeanyi Mark)
