An Imo State High Court has admitted critical evidence tendered by the Department of State Services (DSS) in the trial of five suspects accused of kidnapping 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members on Independence Day.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the DSS’s first principal witness, Ikem Emmanuel, told the court that the defendants made confessional statements admitting to conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms.
The witness tendered audio-visual recordings of the alleged confessions, written statements from the defendants, firearms recovered during the investigation and money allegedly recovered from them.
Presiding judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, admitted the exhibits and ordered that the firearms and money remain in DSS custody.
The principal witness maintained that the defendants statements were obtained in the presence of their legal representatives and DSS legal officers.
In a related case involving two other kidnapping suspects, the DSS officer also testified that their statements were taken under caution in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers.
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He tendered audio-visual recordings of the statements, written statements and money recovered in naira.
However, he could not tender his investigation report due to time constraints.
At the end of proceedings, Justice Orafu adjourned both cases to October 28, 29 and 30 for continuation of hearing.
The judge also ordered that the five defendants remain in DSS custody.
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