The Federal Government, on Thursday, arraigned before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, six persons accused of dealing in human parts.
Federal Government, in the four-count charge brought before the court, alleged that the Defendants- Adejoh Tijani, Ocholi Tijani, Damodu Zekari, Danlami Shaibu, Michael Yahaya, and Emmanuel Amanyi- masterminded several kidnappings in Abuja, Jos and Kogi state.
It told the court that four of their alleged accomplices- Male Isiaka, smile Agege, Papa Alhaji, and Blessing Ismail Agege, are currently at large.
Specifically, FG, in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/230/2022, which was endorsed by the Inspector General of Police, alleged that the Defendants had “on or about October 2021 at Kogi State, Abuja, and Jos within the Abuja Judicial Division, Kidnapped and took several persons on hostage, some of them you killed and removed their vital parts”.
They were accused of committing an offense contrary to sections 1 and 11 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.
FG alleged that the Defendants, armed with assorted weapons, robbed and dispossessed several persons of their belongings, including one Alhaji Ibrahim Abalaka, a resident of Adamu Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
It told the court that the Defendants were found with locally made pistols and other dangerous weapons, after they were arrested by security agents, following a tip-off by community leaders in Kogi state.
Though the Defendants mounted the dock on Thursday, they were however unable to take their plea owing to an error on the charge sheet.
Following an application by the Prosecution counsel, Mrs. Blessing Ezeala, trial Justice Binta Nyako adjourned the matter till October 17 and ordered that they should be remanded at the Keffi Correctional Center, Nasarawa State.
Meanwhile, counsel to the Defendants, G. O Nwachukwu, Abu Muazu, Paul Abah, and Oni Alexander, notified the court that they have filed applications for their clients to be released on bail pending the determination of the case against them.
Two counts in the charge against the Defendants read: “That you Adejoh Tijani, Ocholi Tijani, Damodu Zekari, Danlami Shaibu, Micheal Yahaya, Emmanuel Amanyi, Male like now (at large) Ismaila Agege (at large) Papa Alhaji (at large) and Blessing Ismaila Agege (at large), on or about October 2021 at Kogi State, Abuja, and Jos within the Abuja Judicial Division, did kidnap and took several persons on hostage, some of them you killed and removed their vital parts and you thereby committed the offense contrary to section 11 of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act, 2011.
“That you Adejoh Tijani, Ocholi Tijani, Damodu Zekari, Danlami Shaibu, Michael Yahaya, Emmanuel Amanyi, Male Isiaka now (at Large) Ismaila Agege (at large) Papa Alhaji (at large) and Blessing lsmaila Agege (at large) on or about October 2021 at Kogi State, Abuja, and Jos within the Abuja Judicial Division, you were discovered in your possession, locally made pistols and other dangerous weapons illegally acquired for your armed robbery operations.
“You thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 3 of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act, 2004”.