Man in court over alleged criminal conspiracy, kidnapping
NAN-H-40
Kidnapping
By Emmanuel Antswen
Makurdi, Aug. 23, 2017 (NAN)A 34-year old-Man, John Kehen Utsa, was on Wednesday arraigned in a Makurdi Upper Area Court for alleged criminal conspiracy and kidnapping.
The prosecutor, Insp. Alexander Akule, told the court that the case was transferred from Divisional Police Headquarters, Katsina-Ala, on Aug. 13, to the Benue State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) Makurdi.
Akule alleged that the complainant, one Mary Soraan of Collins Soraan Street, Katsina-Ala Local Government, reported the case at the Katsina-Ala Police Station.
He told the court that the defendant who lives in Utsa, behind Central Primary School, Kastina-Ala, on Aug.10, allegedly conspired with others now at large and kidnapped the complainant’s 9-year son, Mfater Soraan.
Akule alleged that the complainant’s husband, Iwange Manasseh, “on the same date at about 062hrs and 1025hrs respectively, received a phone call from GSM number 08051170177 demanding for a ransom of N3 million.”
The prosecutor further told the court that police detectives rescued Mfater and arrested the accused, who confessed committing the alleged crime while his accomplices are still at large.
Akule told the court that since the matter was still under investigations, he urged the court to remand the accused in prison.
The offences contravened the provisions of Section 97 of the Penal Code Law of Benue State and Section 3 (2) of the Abduction, Hostage -Taking, Kidnapping, Cultism and Other Related Activities (Prohibition) Law 2017.
The defendant’s plea was not taken.
The judge, Fatima Akintomide, ordered that the defendant be remanded at Makurdi Prisons and adjourned the case until Sept. 29 for mention.(NAN)
AEB/KOO/OU
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Edited by Kevin Okunzuwa/Obike Ukoh
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