A high court of Imo State has fixed December 6, to deliver judgement in the charge of kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms and hostage -taking preferred against three men
by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly kidnapping 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on Independence Day in the state.
The trial judge, Justice Emeka Orafu disclosed this on Friday
after the defence lawyers announced closure of their case following the testimony of the third defence witness, Mohammed Ali.
The third defendant, like
two others co-charged with him,
Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu, said the confessional statement he made to the DSS on his alleged involvement is correct.
The Aliyus, on Thursday, ended their defence.
Thereafter, Justice Orafu gave the defence seven days, with effect from Saturday, November 7, 2026, to file their briefs. He also gave the prosecution five days, with effect from Saturday, November 14, 2026, to file their response.
Before adjourning the matter to November 24, 2026, for the adoption of their written addresses, Justice Orafu fixed December 16, 2026, to deliver judgement.
Under cross examination by the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mr. Martins Udolwu, the third defence witness, Ali, admitted knowing Adamu Aliyu as an acquaintance,l whom he occasionally chances on in mosques.
He also admitted that he is a herder of cattle who has lived in Aba, Abia State, for about two years.
Also under cross examination, Ali, like the two other defendants did on Thursday, confessed that the audio-visual recording of him by the DSS, as well as his written statements, were done voluntarily and in the presence of his counsel.
On Thursday, Ali’s co-defendants, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu admitted before the court that their confessional statements presented by the DSS were done voluntarily, even as they begged for forgiveness.