A 'House' Divided Against Itself? Nigeria Police Arraigns Sergeant, Three Others for ‘Kidnapping’ Fellow Policemen

The Anti-Pipeline Unit of the Police on Tuesday arraigned four men, including a police sergeant, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for allegedly kidnapping nine policemen at Arepo, near Ikorodu in Lagos.

Godwin German (36), Tamarami Tunwa (23), Sergeant Akowe Jacob (41) and Mayibi Hazeez (29) were charged with nine counts of kidnapping.

The “kidnapped” policemen are an Assistant Superintendent of Police Abdullahi Bature; Inspectors Raymond Oriere, Usman Mohammed, Oguntimehin Kolawole, Tijani Jimoh and Corporals Elogbamen Timothy, Yakubu Aliyu, Usman Abdulkareem and Dauda Mohammed.

The prosecution counsel, Raymond Odion, said the accused persons allegedly conspired to commit the offence on May 24 at about 9pm at Arepo.

The alleged offence is punishable under Section 33(1) (a) of the Terrorism Prevention Act 2011.

The four accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Odion prayed the court to remand them in prison until their trial is concluded.

But defence counsel, Chief S.W. Baidi, said he filed a bail application for the accused persons.

According to him, bail is a discretionary remedy, but the Constitution allows the applicants the benefit of being presumed innocent until proven guilty.

“The offence that the defendants were charged with is a bailable one, which attracts not more than 20 years on conviction.

“The accused persons are all responsible, especially the third defendant, who is a sergeant and has not been dismissed.

“He was in the process of writing a promotional exam for the rank of Inspector when he was arrested,” Baidi said.

Justice Muhammed Yunusa adjourned to September 15 for ruling on the bail application.

 Source:

The Nation Newspaper