According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the Police on Wednesday arraigned a Junior Secondary School III pupil in a Wuse Zone 2 Magistrates’ Court, Abuja over the alleged kidnap of eight-year-old Innocent Sani, his cousin.
The prosecutor, Mr Kufreabasi Ebong, alleged that the defendant kidnapped Sani, his cousin on Dec. 18, 2017.
The prosecutor said that the defendant, 18-year-old Ebenezer Istifanus, demanded N40m ransom, but was paid N160,000.
He alleged that the defendant enticed the boy out of the lawful custody of his guardians without their consent.
He said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 273 of the Penal Code.
Istifanus, however, denied committing the offence, adding that he was wrongly accused.
He said that he was a JSS3 pupil of Government Science School Wamba, Nasarawa State.
The defendant said that he was fixing electrical faults in the shop of a former neighbour when he was arrested by men of the Nigeria Police.
The magistrate, Mr Emenisi Ebiwari, described the case as ‘delicate’ since it “involves members of the same family”.
He ordered that the defendant be remanded in police custody and adjourned the case until Feb. 1, for further hearing.