An Imo State High Court has urged lawyers to expedite proceedings in cases involving five suspected kidnappers, with the judge targeting judgments before January 2027.
An Imo State High Court sitting in Owerri has called for accelerated proceedings in the trials of five suspected kidnappers, urging prosecution and defence counsel to cooperate in ensuring the cases are concluded before January 2027.
Presiding judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, made the appeal during hearings involving three defendants accused of abducting prospective National Youth Service Corps members and two others facing charges in a separate kidnapping case.
During proceedings in the NYSC-related case, a Department of State Services investigative officer, Ikem Emmanuel, detailed the investigation that led to the arrest of the three defendants.
Emmanuel told the court that investigators relied on intelligence gathering, telephone data analysis, record checks, interviews and statements obtained from the defendants, victims and witnesses.
He added that an identification parade was conducted, during which victims and witnesses identified the defendants as alleged members of the criminal gang.
The DSS officer further testified that one of the defendants, Usman Aliyu, admitted in his statement to participating in the operation and allegedly disclosed that 11 people were involved. Emmanuel maintained that the defendants’ statements were obtained in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.
In a separate proceeding involving two other defendants, the officer also gave evidence on the investigation, stating that their statements were recorded in the presence of their legal representatives and DSS legal officers.
After the hearings, Justice Orafu adjourned the cases to October 27, 28, 29 and 30 for continuation of proceedings. The judge reiterated his call for all counsel to work towards the speedy determination of the cases, stressing the need for judgments before January 2027.
The five defendants are to remain in DSS custody as the trials continue.
The cases stem from the abduction of 20 prospective corps members by gunmen near Umunoha in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State on October 1, 2026.
The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to their assigned NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states when they were seized.
Six days later, the prospective corps members and a civilian were rescued from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area.
The DSS subsequently arrested five suspects in intelligence-led operations conducted between October 10 and 14 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and Aba, Abia State.
The court proceedings are expected to continue later this month as the judge presses for an expeditious resolution of the cases.
