Justice John Tsoho gave the order on Wednesday when the five defendants were arraigned on five counts bordering on acts of terrorism punishable by life imprisonment under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered that five kidnappers accused of abducting five students and three members of staff of the Turkish School in Isheri, Ogun State, be remanded in Kuje Prison till September 28.
Justice John Tsoho gave the order on Wednesday when the five defendants were arraigned on five counts bordering on acts of terrorism punishable by life imprisonment under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.
The suspects, who appeared in court without any legal representation, pleaded not guilty to the charges after they were read to them in Pidgin English through an interpreter. They will remain in Kuje pending the commencement of their trial.
It would be recalled that the kidnappers abducted five students and three members of staff of the Turkish School in Ogun State on January 13, 2017. The victims regained their freedom on January 24 after the kidnappers received their ransom payments.
The kidnappers were later arrested in February and brought to court yesterday, but the trial was adjourned due to the absence of a Pidgin English interpreter.
The kidnappers’ names were given as Bekewei Agbojule (a.k.a Asari), Egbasimokumo Ayeomi (a.k.a Effiong), Godspower Olopele, Toki Okuba and Super Allen Baye (a.k.a Yanga).
Agbojule, Ayeomi, and Baye were identified as being from the Ijaw community of Arogbo town, in the riverine area of Ondo State, while Olopele and Okubawere said to be residents of Ikorodu in Lagos State, and Isheri in Ogun State, respectively.
