A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday refused bail to the Taraba state kidnap kingpin, Bala Hamisu, also known as Wadume and six others standing trial for kidnapping, possession of AK-47 rifles and dealing in prohibited firearms, contrary to section 27 (1)(a)(I) and (1)(b)(iii) of the firearms act.
In a ruling, Justice Binta Nyako held the bail application filed by Wadume and his codefendants were needless as she has already ordered an accelerated hearing in the matter.
In the ruling, Justice Nyako ordered that Wadume and his codefendants be moved from the custody of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) of the police to the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja.
She also ordered that the authorities of the Correctional Centre in Kuje should allow the defendants access to medical facility and their counsel while in their custody.
Wadume was first arrested in Ibi, Taraba State, on August 6, 2019, by policemen from the Intelligence Response Team of the Inspector General of the Police office.
He was arrested for a kidnap case in which he was said to have demanded N106m as ransom and as he was being conveyed from Ibi to Abuja, an army of ten soldiers, led by one Captain Tijjani Balarabe shot at them, killing three of the policemen to free Wadume from custody.
Wadume was later rearrested for interrogation before he was charged along with six others in February 2020.
The soldiers who were initially charged along with Wadume had their names removed from the charge sheet as defendants by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, which took over the prosecution of the matter from the police.
Earlier in the proceedings Wednesday, the first prosecution witness, Felix Adolije, who was led in evidence was cross-examined by counsel to the defendants.
The prosecution also called additional two witnesses, who told the court of the role they played in Wadume’s escape from custody.
