The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has finally arraigned the alleged Taraba state kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Hamisu Bala, also known as Wadume and six others before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja. Wadume and his codefendants were arraigned on Monday on an amended13-count charge, bordering on terrorism, kidnapping and dealing with prohibited arms. The Taraba kidnap kingpin and his codefendants, numbering 19, were to be arraigned by the Police last week when a lawyer from the office of the AGF, Shuaibu Labaran announced the taking over of matter by the AGF, pursuant to his power under Section 174(2) of the Constitution. The defence lawyers did not oppose the amendment, which was read to the defendants, to which they all pleaded not guilty to. The remaining defendants arraigned were Inspector Aliyu Dadje, who was a station officer at police headquarters in Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State, Wadume, Auwalu Bala, (aka Omo Razor), Uba Bala (aka Uba Belu); Bashir Waziri, (aka Baba runs); Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho); Hafizu Bala (aka Maiwelder); and Rayyanu Abdul.

Source: Nigerian Tribune June 08, 2020 15:00 UTC