Three Policemen, 5 Others Face Trial Over DPO, 3 Others’ Death

April 2, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO, April 02, (THEWILL) – For allegedly causing the death of the Divisional Police Officer of the Ashaka Police Station in Bajoga Local Government Area of Gombe State, SP Abubakar Sadia, and three other policemen during a raid on the station by Boko Haram, three policemen and five other suspected members of the Boko Haram sect were Wednesday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Prosecuting counsel, Lawrence Alabi, told the trial judge, Justice Ademola Adeniyi, that the accused allegedly committed the offence on March 7, 2012 in Ashaka.

The three policemen are Corporal Jimmy Oba’a of Nigeria Police Force Bajoga Division Gombe state; PC Michael Manu and PC Iliya Mark, of same Bajoga Division, while the other suspects are Abeimel Ibrahim, Isah Kano, Yambah Umaru, Danbga Wilfred and Sadeeq Ali Amatiga.

All the eight accused persons however pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them .

Their lawyer, Nanpon Wuyep, however tried in vain to secure a bail for them as his application was turned down by the court and further hearing in the case adjourned to May 26 and 27 .

The court also ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody till the next adjourned date.

Count one of the three counts the accused are being charged reads: “That you Abeimel Ibrahim (m) of Unguwan Alheri, Ashaka Gombe state, (2) Isah Kano (m) of A14 Workers Village Ashaka Cement Gombe, (3) Yambah Umaru of Ashaka Town Bajoga Gombe, (4) Danbga Wilfred of Ashaka Town Bajoga Gombe, (5) Cpl Jimmy Oba’a of Nigeria Police Force Bajoga Division Gombe state, (6) PC Michael Manu of Nigeria Police Force Bajoga Division Gombe state, (7) PC Iliya Mark, Nigeria Police Force Bajoga Division Gombe, (8) Sadeeq Ali Amatiga (m) of Ashaka Town, Gunakaye LGA Gombe state and others at large on 7/3/2012 at 1900 hrs conspired and agreed among yourselves while armed with different types of ammunitions and dangerous weapons and explosives to kill innocent people and destruction of public properties under the name of Boko Haram in Ashaka in Bajoga LGA of Gombe state, an offence which is punishable under Section 516 of the Criminal Code Act Law of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004″.

Count two says :“That you Abeimel Ibrahim (m) of Unguwan Alheri, Ashaka Gombe state, (2) Isah Kano (m) of A14 Workers Village Ashaka Cement Gombe, (3) Yambah Umaru of Ashaka Town Bajoga Gombe, (4) Danbga Wilfred of Ashaka Town Bajoga Gombe, (5) Cpl Jimmy Oba’a of Nigeria Police Force Bajoga Division Gombe state, (6) PC Michael Manu of Nigeria Police Force Bajoga Division Gombe state, (7) PC Iliya Mark, Nigeria Police Force Bajoga Division Gombe, (8) Sadeeq Ali Amatiga (m) of Ashaka Town, Gunakaye LGA Gombe state and others at large being a member of proscribed Boko Haram while armed with dangerous weapons on 7th March 2012 at 1900 hrs, at Ashaka in Bajoga LGA of Gombe state while armed with different types of ammunitions and other dangerous weapon and explosives wilfully attacked, shot and killed the Divisional Police Officer of Ashaka Police Station, SP Abubakar Sadia, Cpl Imamu Ijinyawa, Cpl Yakubu Azi, Cpl Jdi Harima, in the course of their official duties without any provocation, an offence which is contrary to and punishable under Section 2 (c) (1) of Terrorism Acts, 2011 and punishable under Section 33 (1) (e) of the Terrorism Prevention Acts.”

Count three reads: “That you Abeimel Ibrahim (m) of Unguwan Alheri, Ashaka Gombe state, (2) Isah Kano (m) of A14 Workers Village Ashaka Cement Gombe, (3) Yambah Umaru of Ashaka Town Bajoga Gombe, (4) Danbga Wilfred of Ashaka Town Bajoga Gombe, (5) Cpl Jimmy Oba’a of Nigeria Police Force Bajoga Division Gombe state, (6) PC Michael Manu of Nigeria Police Force Bajoga Division Gombe state, (7) PC Iliya Mark, Nigeria Police Force Bajoga Division Gombe, (8) Sadeeq Ali Amatiga (m) of Ashaka Town, Gunakaye LGA Gombe state and others at large on the 7th March 2012 at 19oo hrs at Ashaka in Bajoga LGA of Gombe state, while armed with dangerous weapons, sword and explosive and a member of Boko Haram attacked and burnt down the Divisional Police Station, stole rifle and other ammunitions in the station, and one Jincheng Motorcycle, one Police Beret, released all the suspects who were on detention and also broke down the FinBank and Zenith Bank in the town, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 2 (3) (i) of Terrorism Prevention Acts and Section 443 (a) of the Criminal Code Act, Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”