The Nigeria Police Force on Monday arraigned nine persons before a state Plateau High Court for allegedly attacking and killing commuters at Rukubu with dangerous weapons including, knives, daggers, swords on April 15, 2021.
The prosecutor, Mrs. Muleng Alex, O/C legal of Plateau state Police Command Monday, who said the offense was punishable with death contrary to section 188 and 189 of penal code law of culpable homicide, told the court that one Solomon Dung, a minor of 17 years old should be remanded in children custody at the correctional center.
The following persons were arraigned, Mr. Mathew Daniel 2 Jurbe Zamani,3 Dapar Sunday, 4 Bernard Francis, 5 Daniel Bulus, 6 Solomon Dung 7Yakubu John 8 Stephen Ishaku, 9 Yohanna Marshal for alleged taking part in the attacks that led to the death of Sule Alhaji Bechi, Mallam Ahmadu, Sidda Abubakar, Abdulkarim Mumini, Suleiman Hassan, Salisu Haliu, Mohammed Nura, Bello Ori, Abdulkarim SNU, Yakubu Mallam Bello others in Jos North LGA.
Mrs Muleng Alex urged the court clerk to read the offenses committed by the defendants which were read to the accused persons and they all pleaded not guilty to committing the crimes.
The prosecutor sought the relief of the court to be given a short date within which they would prove the allegation levied against the accused persons with the belief that they have been served with the motion.
However, a 4 count charge was read to the accused persons which the counsel to the accused persons Barr. Yakubu Bawa opposed, arguing that the charge service was only affected on one person instead of all the accused persons.
Justice Ashom order that the remaining 9 accused persons be served with proper notice before the next adjourned date which is October 13, 2021, for an indefinite hearing.
Counsel to the accused, Barr. Yakubu Bawa made a passionate appeal to the court on the six(6) defendant who is a minor, Master Solomon Dung aged 17 on the grounds that he was empowered by the provision of section 175 of the Criminal Justice law of 2018.
He added that subsection C of the law under (1), A-C subsection C which application bound the court to release the 6 defendants on self-recognition or to be entered by his parents /guardian showed that he was bound to secure his own release not to be taken to the correctional center.
The prosecutor submitted that the section cut by the defendant’s counsel is a misconception that the section indicates that at a point of arrest not arraigned on culpable homicide where the minor committed the offense by urging the court to overruled and allow the 6 accused person to be taken to children center at Taranto in Jos North where the children of his age are currently serving.
Barr. Yakubu Bawa said they’re opposing their application because the defendants have filed his defense which is dated September 24, 2021.