Jos High Court remands 6 men for allegedly kidnapping, raping 2 girls

A Jos High Court on Friday ordered that six men who allegedly kidnapped and raped two girls, be remanded in prison custody, pending hearing in their bail applications.

The Attorney-General (AG) of Plateau charged Inusa Yahaya, Rabiu Jibrin, Abdullahi Mohammed, Nuhu Mohammed, Sale Suleiman and Lawal Saidu all residents of Jos with conspiracy, kidnapping, rape and extortion.

Justice Christine Dabup of High Court IV adjourned the case until July 24 for the bail applications and Oct. 18 and Oct. 28 for hearing.

ALSO READ: LPPC elevates Apata, Malik, Rhodes-Vivour, 35 others to SAN rank

Earlier, Mr Gideon Azi, Principal State Counsel, Plateau Ministry of Justice, who represented the AG, told that the accused committed the offence on March 6, 2019.

“My Lord, the accused persons on March 6, conspired, kidnapped two young girls, raped them and extorted their parents of N2.1 Million. They committed offences contrary to sections 245 (1)(2)(3), 256(1) and 276 of the penal code of Plateau.

“The accused had abducted the two victims at Rantya Quarters in Jos South Local Government and took them to an unknown destination for a period of time until a ransom of N2. 130 million was paid to them.

“The suspects committed the offence along with two others, one Samaila Adams now late and one Sule, who is now at large,  Azi stated.

“My Lord, l apply that the matter is adjourned to enable them to file their bail applications properly and for me to also reply accordingly.

“It won’t be proper for us to take the applications in piecemeal but at a go.

“I hereby apply that the suspects be kept in Prison Custody pending when the bail applications would be taken on the next adjourned date,” Azi pleaded.

After the charges were read to them, the accused pleaded not guilty to all the four-count charge.

Counsel Yahaya, Malam A.S. Umar and Counsel for Jibrin and Mohammed, Mr A. Garkuwa prayed the court to admit their clients to bail in the most liberal terms.