By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria
High Court 1, Dogarawa Zaria has remanded Abubakar Haliru of Magume, Zaria in the Correctional Center over alleged kidnapping of his cousin sister, Hajiya Binta Mohammed.
Prosecution Counsel, Tanko Mohammed told the court that only the first defendant, (Abubakar Haliru) was in court while Nuhu Ibrahim and Rashidu Ibrahim were at large.
Mohammed applied for the charge to be read for the defendant to take his plea.
The charge said, “you Abubakar Haliru of Magume within the jurisdiction of the court on August 10, 2021 at about 5.00pm deceived one Hajiya Binta Mohammed by asking her to accompany you to collect money from your friend at Danmagaji.
“But instead, you handed her over to kidnapers at Galadimawa village, the offence contravened section 246 of Penal Code Law of Kaduna state with case number KDH/Z/22C/2021.”
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges and the prosecution counsel applied for a date to call witnesses.
Mohammed said investigation into the case have been concluded and they were ready for trial, stressing that they have four witnesses to call.
Counsel to the defendant, Mr Isa Shuaibu told the court that he had pending bail application.
The presiding judge, Justice Kabir Dabo said the Clcourt cannot grant such application at this stage until after he assesses the trend of evidence and trend of the trial.
He therefore, granted an accelerated hearing of the case and adjourned the matter to January 24 and 25 for hearing.
Dabo also directed officers of the correctional centre to take the defendant to their health facility for better medical attention.
It would be recalled that on October 12, 2021.The Police Force headquarters in Abuja, paraded 48 suspects for kidnapping, homicide, armed robbery, unlawful possession of firearms, car theft and other criminal offences.
Among the suspect was one Abubakar Haliru, who planned the kidnap of his cousin Binta Mohammed, 48, following his inability to pay back the loan he borrowed from her to expand his business.
Parading the suspects before newsmen, the Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, said the suspect lured his cousin to escort him to a place where he wanted to collect money and give to her only to hand her over to a kidnap gang.
