The Federal High Court in Abuja has set May 13 for the arraignment of four suspects linked to the abduction of University of Abuja lecturers and their children in 2021. This comes after gunmen raided the Senior Staff Quarters of the University of Abuja in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory on November 2, 2021, and abducted six lecturers.
During the invasion, which saw over 20 gunmen storming the compound, the victims, including Bassey Ubom, his son, and daughter, Prof Joseph Adavani, Dr Ferguson Tobins, Mohammed Sambo, Offiong Ubom, John Obansa, and Fidelis Obansa, were forcefully taken from their homes.
The arraignment of the suspects, scheduled for Monday, was postponed due to the court’s vacation. The case, presided over by Justice Donatus Okorowo, has been adjourned until May 13.
The defendants, Adamu Abubakar, Nura Muhammed Ahmadu, Ismailia Abubakar, and Abdulrahman Ado (also known as Yellow), are facing charges of terrorism brought by the Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The charges allege that the defendants conspired to abduct the lecturers and their children, demanding a ransom of N300 million for their release. They are accused of taking the victims hostage and holding them captive in a forested area for three days.
The charges further state that the defendants committed an offense contrary to Section 15 of the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act 2013.
The arraignment on May 13 will mark a significant step in the legal proceedings against the suspects involved in this heinous crime.
