Court Orders Buratai, Olonisakin To Produce For Prosecution Army Officer Allegedly Involved In Wadume’s Escape

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued an order directing the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, and Chief of Defence Staff, Abayomi Olonisakin to produce for prosecution in court the army officer who allegedly aided the initial escape of a suspected kidnapper, Hamisu Bala Ibrahim, popular known as Wadume.

The suspected kidnapper, Wadume was arrested and being taken by some police officers to the Taraba Command Headquarters on the 6th of August, 2019 before they were allegedly attacked by some military officers who eventually murdered the policemen and freed the suspected kidnapper.

Wadume was later recaptured in his Kano hideout 13 days after by the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team IRT.

Issuing the ruling on the application filed by the prosecution counsel on Monday, Justice Binta Nyako oredered Buratai and Olonisakin to release the army officers for prosecution on March 30.

The prosecution counsel, Simon Lough, had urged the court at the resumed hearing to make an order compelling the military heads to release the 2nd to 11th defendants for prosecution.

Relying on section 87 and 159 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, which empowered the court to compel any suspect standing trial to appear in court, Lough told the court that the Nigerian Army had rejected the police request for the release of the suspected officers for prosecution.

Wadume and other suspects, who however appeared in court could not take their plea due to non-appearance of the army officers.

The trial judge therefore adjourned the matter until the 30th of March for hearing.