Two persons standing trial for the Independence Day kidnap of 20 prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Imo State, on Thursday, told a high court of the state that they indeed made the statements and audio visual confessions tendered before the court by the Department of State Services (DSS).
Both men, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu, first and second defendants respectively, however, begged the court for forgiveness.
At the resumed sitting of the court on Thursday, the first and second defendants, under cross examination, admitted that they made the audio-visual confessional statements and also also thumb-printed the written statements before their counsel. The materials were tendered in court by the DSS.
Earlier, in their evidence-in-chief, both defendants pleaded with the court to forgive them and set them free in the case conspiracy, hostage taking and unlawful possession of firearms.
At the resumed sitting in which Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu opened their defence by testifying for themselves, they both admitted to voluntarily making the audio visual and written statements which the DSS tendered and were admitted by the court.
In another related matter, the trial two other defendants for suspected conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of fire arms continued with a prosecution witness identifying both defendants as the persons who kidnapped him for ransom in the state on October 4, 2026.
At the conclusion of the day’s proceedings, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Orafu adjourned both matters to November 6th for continuation.