An Abuja High Court sitting in Maitama has ordered the remand of two residents, Acha Michael and Abigail Vincent, over the alleged kidnapping and murder of a 21-year-old man, Emmanuel Chukwuemeka.
The defendants, Michael, 21, and Vincent, 20, both residents of Apo, Abuja, were arraigned before Justice Ngozi Nwabulu on three counts bordering on criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and culpable homicide punishable by death.
The prosecution, led by counsel Ridwan Mohammed, alleged that the defendants conspired between April 24 and 29 to kidnap Chukwuemeka, who was later killed.
According to the prosecution on Monday, the defendants allegedly lured the victim to Apo Hill under the guise of going for prayers, where he was subsequently murdered.
The prosecution alleged that Michael demanded a ransom of N5 million from the victim’s mother, Juliana Anidu, following the abduction.
He was also accused of directing the woman to pay the ransom into Vincent’s Point-of-Sale account.
The offences were said to contravene Sections 97, 221 and 274 of the Penal Code Law.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all three counts when the charges were read to them.
Following their pleas, Mohammed urged the court to remand the defendants in custody pending the commencement of trial.
He specifically requested that they be held at the Kuje, Suleja or Keffi Correctional Centres, citing the seriousness of the allegations against them.
The defence counsel, Katr Nwaigbo, did not oppose the prosecution’s application for remand.
In his ruling, Justice Nwabulu ordered that Michael be remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre, while Vincent was ordered to be taken to either the Suleja or Keffi Correctional Centre.
The court subsequently adjourned the case until September 24, when the trial is expected to commence.