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| Olu Falae, former SFG |
The suspects are Babawuro Kato and Abdulkadir Umar. They were arrested in Abuja following an intelligence report, SaharaReporters gathered.
According to our sources, the two men were arraigned along with the five previously arrested by the police in connection with the case.
At the resumed hearing, the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) pleaded with the court to be permitted to replace the charges earlier leveled against the five suspects with new ones.
Some of the charges, which were read in English and translated into Hausa, are as follows:
"That you, Abubaka Auta, Bello Jannu, UmaruIbrahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar, Babawo Kato and others now at large, on or about Monday 21st September, 2015 at Kajola/EyinalaCommunity in Akure Judicial Division did kidnap Chief Oluemi Falae, the Former Secretary to the Federation Government of Nigeria and did not release him until N5,000,000 ransom was paid."
"That you, Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar and BabawoKato and others now at large, on or about Monday 21st September, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did rob Chief Olu Falae of N15,000 and his handset while armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons."
The two suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
The prosecution said the offences contravene Section 2 of Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law. 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.
Leading the prosecution, Akinladapo Ogunleye, a Solicitor General, pleaded with the court to grant his team a few days to assemble more witnesses for the case.
Justice William Polyamide, the presiding judge,granted the plea and adjourned the case until December 2nd, 2015. He ordered the suspects be remanded to the Olokuta prison custody.
Source: Bloom Gist and Agencies
