Court sentences kidnap kingpin, Wadume to seven years

Justice Binta Nyako has sentenced the Taraba based kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala, popularly called Wadume, to seven years imprisonment without an option of fine.

Wadume was convicted by the trial judge for unlawfully dealing in prohibited firearms and for escaping from prison custody.

The Office of the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice had earlier brought the criminal prosecution before Justice Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

After the trial lasted for three years, Nyako convicted Wadume on counts two and 10 of the 13-count charge brought against him and six others.

Meanwhile, Justice Nyako, on July 22, 2022 delivered judgement on other defendants in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/30/2020, which are: Aliyu Dadje (a police inspector), Auwalu Bala (aka omo razor), Uba Bala (aka Uba Delu), Bashir Wazlri (aka baba runs), Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho) and Rayyanu Abdul.

The details of Court papers, which emerged on Sunday, August 14, showed that the case of the prosecution team was upheld.

Inspector Dadje was sentenced to three years for tampering with Police records to conceal a crime.

Dadje was the Station officer at the Ibi Divisional Police Headquarters, Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State at the time of the crime.

According to Court records, he was said to have tampered with entries made by the leader, Inspector Felix Adolije of the IGP, IRT team in August, 2019, by tearing off the entry page to cover up for Captain Tijani Ahmed Balarabe and his team.

Other suspects sentenced to seven years each are Uba Bala, popularly called Uba Deli and Zubairu Abdullahi, alias Basho, having been charged with illegal possession and unlawful trading in prohibited weapons.

One Mr Abdul, a resident in Kano, was sentenced to three years for harbouring Wadume after he escaped from Police custody in Ibi.

Two suspects, Auwal Bala, qlias Omo Razor and Bashir Waziri, alias Baba Runs, who were listed as 3rd and 5th defendants were discharged and acquitted for want of evidence against them.