The Minna Chief Magistrate court Number one has ordered for the remand of six persons among them a married woman in correctional custody for alleged kidnapping.
Hajiya Ummulkhatum Mohammed the Presiding Chief Magistrate who gave the ordered for their remand held that her court lack the Jurisdiction to try kidnapping case," even with their plea of guilty to the offence.
The Operatives of the Anti kidnapping squad of the Niger State Police Command arrested and charged them to the Chief Magistrate court on four count charges bothering on Conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.
According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), marked MN/ CM/ CR/11/2025 the four count charges were punishable under section 3 (1),2 (2) of the kidnapping and cattle rustling law of Niger State 2016 and section 27 of the firearms Act Cap 28 law of Niger state 2004.
The defendants include, Aisha Sani, Abuh Mohammed,Daudu Mohammed,Mamman Sani Shehu Arzika Laura and Jibrin Ahmadu all of Kwanar Sangir, Tunga Magajiya,Udu and Duggi village in Rijau local government area.
The Police Prosecutor Inspector Bello Mohammed Beji told the court that on the 10th, of March,2025, " one Mallam Sarkin Noma Gata of Marrando village in Rijau local government area of Niger State reported on the 5th,March 2025. He was sleeping with his family with his compound when unknown gunmen numbering six invaded his house, firing sporadically into the air and beat him until he became unconscious.
"But he managed to escape to the nearby house and his daughter Mai-Kyau Mallam, a 22 year old,was also kidnapped to an unknown destination,"he told the court.
During Police investigation ,the Prosecutor further told the court that they all freely confessed to have conspired among themselves to have commited the crime.
" And also confessed that they demanded the ransom of Nine Million Naira. But they bargained to Five Million Naira"
They were rescued by some group of hunters when they were to deliver the ransom in the Ari Gida Bush in Rijau one of the victim Mai-Kyau was rescued.
When the charges were read to them by the Presiding Chief Magistrate Hajiya Ummulkhatum Mohammed,four them pleaded guilty of the offence while two others pleaded not guilty.
At this point the Presiding Chief Magistrate held that her court lack Jurisdiction to convict and sentence them " is only High Court that has the Jurisdiction to convict and pass verdict on them"
She then told the prosecutor to hasten up and file the appropriate charges against them in the High court and she then ordered for their remand in Correctional Custody
Hajiya Ummulkhatum Mohammed adjougned the case to 6th of May, 2025 for further mention.
