My abductors gave me N2,000 transport fare from N6 million ransom, witness tells court
A victim Fatima Ibrahim told the High Court in Zaria that her kidnappers gave her N2,000 as transportation fare after collecting N6 million ransom.
The police charged Dalhatu Shehu, Lawal Aliyu-Bullet, Nuhu Ismaila and Nura Usman with criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, illegal possession of a firearm and kidnapping.
The police said the offence contravened sections 59 (1), 246 (a-b) of the Penal Code and section 6 (b) of the Fire Arms Special Provision Act.
Ms Ibrahim testified as a witness two at the resumed hearing of the case at Kaduna State High Court 1, Dogarawa Zaria.
“On January 2, 2021, in the night, I heard some strange noises in the house. As I woke up and switched on the lights, I saw the four defendants with a gun and machetes.
” They wanted to know where my husband was. I told them he was away,” she said.
The witness said she was kidnapped and taken to Galadimawa forest after taking her children and valuables away from the house.
“They called my husband and negotiated a ransom of N6 million to be paid in two instalments.
“The money was paid in my presence, and the fourth defendant (Usman) gave me N2,000 out of the money as transportation fare,” she told the court.
She said the defendants directed her on where to board a vehicle that would take her home and assured her that nothing would happen to her and others.
Under cross-examination by defence counsel A. Y. Musa, Ms Ibrahim was asked to mention the name of the person who brought the money to the suspects.
“I do not know his name, but I know him because he works with my husband,” she said.
The prosecution counsel, Jummai Dan’azumi, applied that the witness be discharged.
Justice Kabir Dabo discharged the witness and adjourned the matter until November 15 to continue the hearing.
Earlier, Jafaru Ibrahim, the court registrar, read a letter from the Nigeria Correctional Service Zaria intimating the court that the second defendant Mr Aliyu-Bullet had died.
He said the letter was attached to a death certificate from the Gambo Sawaba General Hospital Zaria.
The judge struck out the charge against the deceased suspect.
(NAN)
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