Awka
3 December 2008
SIXTEEN persons, including a woman, standing trial for alleged kidnapping of two expatriate employees at Nnewi, Anambra State, in 2007, were yesterday discharged by an Nnewi High Court presided over by Justice P.A.Obidigwe following an application by the federal attorney general and minister of justice to take over the case.
They were however rearrested and taken back to prison custody by a team of policemen led by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sadiq Bello, soon after the court rose.
The accused persons, mainly youths, were facing a three count charge of treason, illegal imprisonment and stealing.
The application of the federal attorney general was similar to the one made by the Inspector General of Police on October 8 this year, except that the police did not state that it would re-arrest the suspects after discharge.
Federal director of public prosecutions, Mr. S. Aliyu, who appeared for the federal government in the case said the attorney general of the federation ordered him to take over the case in obedience to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"I pray that the charges be struck out and the accused persons discharged until the attorney general of the federation has studied the case file to determine whether to proceed with the case. I have informed the assistant commissioner of police (ACP) representing the Anambra State commissioner of police not to re-arrest any of the accused persons, pending the outcome of the study of the case file by the federal attorney general."
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