4 arraigned over death of Nigerian army colonel

Four suspected killers of the Nigerian army colonel who was abducted in March, Samaila Inusa, were on Tuesday remanded by a Senior Magistrate of Chief Magistrate Court 1, Kaduna State, as the fifth suspect, Dan Sokoto, is still at-large.

The four suspects are Emeka Okeke, Kabir Ibrahim, Chijoke Ogwuanye and Ebele Precious.

Mr. Inusa was abducted at the NNPC junction in Kaduna state on March 27.

His decomposing body was found around Ajyaita village off Eastern Bypass Kaduna after two days.

It would be recalled that when the suspects were paraded before journalists last week, they confessed to kidnapping and stealing the colonel’s car but denied killing him saying the colonel fired shot that ended his life.

The police prosecutor, Kenneth Dika, urged the First Information Report (FIR) to be read to the suspects so that they can understand the charges against them.

Senior Magistrate, Emmanuel Yusuf, obliged the request and the FIR was read to the suspects being charged for criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, illegal possession of fire arms, armed robbery and culpable homicide punishable by death under section 6b, section 3 (1 & 2) of the robbery and fire and section 22(1) of the penal code.

The judge told the court that he had no jurisdiction to try the case, adding that “the purpose of bringing you here is to remand you in prison custody pending when police conclude their investigation and you will be taken to the appropriate court for trial”.

He however adjourned the sitting to July 21.