Friday Olokor, Adelani Adepegba and Ade Adesomoju More lawyers and activists on Tuesday descended on the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami , for his deci
sion to remove the names of 10 soldiers named as accomplices in the kidnapping chargesThe Defence Headquarters and Army authorities kept mum over the development when contacted by one of our correspondents on Tuesday.
The AGF office cited the “bureaucracy” involved in bringing the soldiers to court and the need to allow the case to begin quickly as the reason for the amendment to the charges. The soldiers, whose names were removed in the amended charges are, Captain Tijjani Balarabe, Staff Sgt. David Isaiah; Sgt. Ibrahim Mohammed; Corporal Bartholomew Obanye; Private Mohammed Nura; Lance Corporal Okorozie Gideon; Corporal Markus Michael; L/Corporal Nvenaweimoeimi Akpagra; and Staff Sgt. Abdullahi Adamu, and Private Ebele Emmanuel.
He said although the prosecutor had the discretion to choose who to charge with an offence based on the evidence available, “he is expected to perform his prosecutorial duty in the interest of the public and justice.” “Was it that they were exonerated? And by whom? The AGF may need to let Nigerians know what is really happening. There are many questions that require answers to give Nigerians the assurance that the right thing is being done in this case.
The Executive Director, Centre for Public Accountability, Olufemi Lawson, said, “The Federal Government, through the Attorney General of the Federation, owes Nigerians further explanations, as to why the decision to drop charges against this military personnel who were practically directly involved in the summary execution of those policemen from the Inspector-General Response team, who have gone to Taraba State to effect the arrest of the notorious kidnapper, Wadume.
A lawyer, Mr Sani Abubakar, said although the AGF’s discretion in a criminal case could not be questioned, the public interest in the removal of the names of the soldiers from the charges was “doubtful.”
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Taraba killings: Outrage as Malami spares army mastermind, other soldiers trial|p style=
Read more »
Taraba Killings: Outrage As Malami Spares Army Mastermind, Other Soldiers Trial | Sahara ReportersTaraba Killings: Outrage As MalamiSAN Spares HQNigerianArmy Mastermind, Other Soldiers Trial | Sahara Reporters They demanded an explanation from the AGF. READ MORE:
Read more »
Finally, FG Arraigns Suspected Taraba Kidnap Kingpin, Wadume, Six Others - THISDAYLIVEAccused military accomplices left out Alex Enumah in Abuja The federal government yesterday finally arraigned a suspected kidnap kingpin in Taraba State, Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume, before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on charges of terrorism. The arraignment came barely few days after the office of the Attorney-General of the …
Read more »
Taraba ‘kidnap kingpin’ Wadume, six others arraignedSUSPECTED kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu Bala (aka Wadume) was arraigned on Monday before a Federal High Court in Abuja. He was arraigned with six others
Read more »
BREAKING: Gunmen Kidnap President Of Customary Court In Taraba State | Sahara ReportersBREAKING: Gunmen Kidnap President Of Customary Court In Taraba State | Sahara Reporters A family member told SaharaReporters that the Shidda was whisked away in the early hours of Monday at his residence in Jalingo, the state capital. PoliceNG READ MORE:
Read more »
BREAKING: Gunmen abduct President of Taraba customary courtThe President of the Customary Court, Justice Donatus Yantau Shidda has been kidnapped by gunmen in Taraba state.He was said to..
Read more »