The absence of an interpreter at the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, stalled the arraignment of five men accused of abducting some pupils.
The
kidnappers allegedly kidnapped pupils and members of staff of
Nigeria/Tulip International College, Isheri, Ogun, on January 13, 2017.
When the matter was called, the defendants, Bekewei Agbojule, Egbasimokumo Ayeomi, Godspower Olopele, Toki Okuba and Super-Allen Baye, said that they only understood Pidgin English very well.
The judge, Justice John Tsoho, adjourned the matter until June 21 to enable the court to provide an interpreter.
“It
is regretted that the court could not locate an interpreter to
translate proceedings to Pidgin English which the defendants understand.
“Therefore, the court will adjourn the matter until tomorrow to look for a competent and unbiased interpreter,” Tsoho said.
The
Federal Government is arraigning the defendants on a five-count charge
bordering on involvement in the acts of hostage taking, receiving of
ransom and acts of terrorism.
The crime carries life sentence under the Terrorism Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
In
the five-count charge, the Office of the Attorney-General of the
Federation alleged that the defendants conspired among themselves and
with others at large and demanded N800 million as ransom after abducting
and detaining their victims.
They were said to have later reduced the amount to N50 million which they allegedly received before releasing the victims.
The prosecution, led by Mr Aminu Alilu,
also alleged in counts four and five of the charge that the defendants
along with others at large, on Dec. 16, 2016 in Lagos, seized six other
people at gunpoint.
They allegedly
demanded a ransom of two million naira from the family members of the
victims and received the money before releasing them.
The
prosecution alleged that the offence of conspiracy to commit hostage
taking was an act of terrorism contrary to Section 17 of the Terrorism
Prevention (Amendment) Act, 2013.
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