A 22-year-old man, Aliyu Muhamadu, who was on Tuesday accused of collaborating in hostage taking, denied ever admitting to being a kidnapper at a Federal Excessive Courtroom in Ibadan.
Muhamadu testified earlier than Choose Ekerete Akpan through the resumed trial in an alleged hostage-taking and theft case filed in opposition to him and Umar Idris, the second defendant.
The witness who spoke by means of an interpreter in hausa language mentioned he didn’t write a confession assertion as a result of he doesn’t know the best way to write something.
“When the Division of State Providers (DSS) officers requested me about it, I instructed them that I knew nothing about kidnapping and I stood by what I instructed them.
'I don't know the way they acquired a so-called confessional assertion. They lied that I wrote it as a result of I can not write in Hausa language or some other language.
“I have no idea whether or not my signature is on the identical confession assertion or not as a result of I used to be unconscious on account of the brutal torture to which the DSS officers subjected me.
“I truly by no means knew I might be alive till now. I used to be so weak and couldn't acknowledge something after being hit,” Muhamadu mentioned.
Furthermore, whereas giving her testimony, one in all Muhamadu's kin, Ayishat, mentioned that the DSS refused to grant her entry to her cousin as a result of they instructed her that there was nobody who might interpret for him within the Hausa language.
“Even after I acquired a lawyer there, they wouldn't let both of us see him.
“Once I lastly noticed him, he seemed so weak and couldn't speak. I by no means knew he might nonetheless be alive,” Muhamadu's aunt testified.
Protection counsel, Mr. Femi Oyinloye, then filed an software asking the courtroom to dismiss the confessional assertion beforehand admitted as proof in opposition to the suspect.
“Your Honor, it will quantity to a miscarriage of justice if the confessional assertion in opposition to my shopper have been admitted.
“Muhamadu mentioned he was unconscious and didn’t write any confessional assertion on account of his torture by the DSS operatives.
“Moreover, none of his members of the family or attorneys have been current when the mentioned confessional assertion was written.
'Your Honor, the punishment related to this case is capital in nature and we can not joke about that.
“I’ve observed many contradictions in my shopper's confessional assertion and testimonies,” Oyinloye mentioned.
In a counter argument, the prosecutor, Mrs. Aderonke Imama, requested the courtroom to not grant Oyinloye's prayer.
Imama cited quite a few constitutional provisions to assist her prayer.
Choose Akpan subsequently adjourned the matter to April 25 to rule on the appliance and continuation of the trial.
