By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja
Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja has ordered the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai and Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin, to produce accomplices for prosecution.
The accomplice is the army personnel, who allegedly aided the initial escape of the kidnap suspect, Hamisu Bala Ibrahim known as Wadume.
The non-appearances of the army personnel, stalled the arraignment and taking of plea of Wadume and other suspects, who appeared in court on Monday.
While ruling on the application moved by the prosecution counsel on Monday, Justice Binta Nyako directed Buratai and Olonisakin to release the army officers involved in the alleged crime for prosecution on March 30.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, prosecution counsel, Simon Lough, urged the court to make an order compelling the military heads to release the 2nd to 11th defendants for prosecution.
Lough told the court that the Nigerian Army had rejected the request by the police asking for the release of the suspected officers for prosecution.
He said he relied on section 87 and 159 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which empowered the court to compel any suspect standing trial to appear in court.
The trial judge adjourned the matter until March 30 for hearing.
Wadume was allegedly freed by some military personnel, who attacked policemen taking him to the Taraba Command headquarters on August 6, 2019 after his arrest.
He was later recaptured in his hideout in Kano 13 days after by the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team.
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