A 35-year old ex-convict Bala Mohammed has been convicted and sentenced to 4 years imprisonment by a Minna Chief Magistrate court number two led by Hajiya Fati Hassan Umar.
The ex-convict was found guilty on 3-count charge which bothered on conspiracy, attempt to commit an offence of kidnapping and criminal intimidation.
According to the police Prosecutor, Sgt. Abdullahi Usman, the 3-count charge were punishable under section 3(1), 3 (3) and 397 of the kidnapping and and cattle rustling law of Niger state 2016 and penal code law respectively.
The operatives of the anti kidnapping squad of the State Criminal investigation and Intelligent Department (SCIID) of the Niger State Police Command arraigned the convict on First Information Report (FIR), marked MN/ CMC/ CR/95/2024 made available in court and obtained by this reporter.
The police Prosecutor told the court that one Alhaji Sadauna Abdullahi, of Wawa village in Borgu Local Government, reported that on the 7th of August, 2024 he received a phone call from an unknown caller through GSM Number 09167577960 threatened him to pay a ransom of three million Naira or else he will be kidnapped and killed.
“That after series of negotiation, the unknown caller later agreed to collect the sum of five hundred thousand Naira.
“Police detectives and vigilante group swung into action and arrested you Bala Mohammed of Wawa village in Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State in the process of collecting the ransom.
“During police investigation, you Bala Mohammed, confessed to have conspired with one Idris surename unknown of Nasarawa state now at large whom you met while serving your jail term at Minna old Correctional centre and you provided the complainant phone number to him to call and threatened him”.
When the charges were read to the convict by the Presiding Chief Magistrate Hajiya Fati Hassan Umar, he pleaded guilty to the 3-count charge.
At this point, the Police Prosecutor Sgt Usman Abdullahi then told the court to convict and sentenced him summarily in accordance with the Provision of section 190 of the administration of Criminal Act (ACJA) Niger state 2023.
While passing her verdict on him, the Presiding Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Fati Hassan Umar described the convict as unrepentant Criminal which makes her to doubt his conscience.
“The convict pleaded for leniency but in the First Information Report (FIR) before the court, it was stated that the convict has served a jail term at old Minna Prison which makes me doubt his conscience and taken him to be a person of questionable character.
“The FIR revealed also that it was during the payment of ransome convict was apprehended by the police,had it been the victim did not pay money the convict would have succeeded with his evil plan against the victim in line of that the convict plea for leniency is not accepted. He is hereby convicted and sentenced to four years imprisonment with hard labour” she held.
