A State High Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State, has called for speedy trials in the ongoing cases involving five suspected kidnappers, urging prosecution and defence counsel to cooperate with the court to ensure judgments are delivered before January 2027.
Presiding Judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, made the appeal during proceedings in the cases involving three defendants accused of abducting prospective National Youth Service Corps members and two others facing charges over a separate kidnapping case.
During the hearing, a Department of State Services (DSS) investigative officer, Ikem Emmanuel, testified on the investigation that led to the arrest of the three defendants in the NYSC-related case.
Emmanuel told the court that the investigation involved intelligence gathering, phone data analysis, record checks, interviews and statements obtained from the defendants, victims and witnesses.
He said an identification parade was conducted, during which victims and witnesses identified the defendants as alleged members of the criminal gang.
The officer further told the court that one of the defendants, Usman Aliyu, admitted in his statement to participating in the operation and allegedly disclosed that 11 people were involved.
Emmanuel maintained that the defendants’ statements were obtained in the presence of their legal representatives and DSS legal officers.
In a related proceeding involving two other defendants, the DSS officer also gave evidence on the investigation, stating that their statements were taken in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.
Following the proceedings, Justice Orafu adjourned the cases to October 27, 28, 29 and 30 for continuation of the hearing.
The judge reiterated the need for all counsel to work with the court to facilitate the speedy determination of the cases and ensure judgments are delivered before January 2027.
The five defendants are to remain in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) as proceedings continue.
On October 1, 2026, 20 corps members were abducted by gunmen near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their assigned NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.
However, the prospective corps members and a civilian were rescued from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area six days later.
The DSS later arrested five suspects in intelligence-led operations conducted between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba in Abia State.
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