The Imo State High Court has scheduled four consecutive days for the trial of five men accused of kidnapping prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, urging lawyers on both sides to work towards concluding the cases before January 2027.
The court fixed October 27 to 30 for the continuation of proceedings in the two cases, which involve three defendants accused of abducting 20 prospective corps members on Independence Day and two others facing charges in a separate kidnapping case.
Justice Emeka Orafu, who presided over the cases on Thursday, called on the prosecution and defence teams to cooperate with the court to ensure a timely conclusion.
During the hearing, an officer of the Department of State Services, DSS, Ikem Emmanuel, testified about the investigation that led to the arrest of the three defendants in the case involving the prospective corps members.
Emmanuel told the court that investigators relied on intelligence gathering, data analysis, record checks, interviews and statements obtained from the defendants, victims and witnesses.
He said an identification parade was also conducted, during which victims and witnesses identified the defendants as members of the gang allegedly responsible for the abduction.
The DSS officer further testified that one of the defendants, Usman Aliyu, admitted in his statement to taking part in the operation. According to the investigator, Aliyu allegedly disclosed that 11 people were involved in the kidnapping.
Emmanuel maintained that the defendants made their statements in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.
In the separate case involving two other defendants, the officer also gave evidence concerning the investigation, stating that their statements were recorded in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.
After the proceedings, Justice Orafu adjourned both cases to October 27, 28, 29 and 30 for further hearing.
The judge also ordered that all five defendants remain in DSS custody pending the continuation of their trials.
