The Federal Government has arraigned six persons accused of dealing on human parts, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
In the four-count charge brought before the court, the Federal Government alleged that the Defendants- Adejoh Tijani, Ocholi Tijani, Damodu Zekari, Danlami Shaibu, Michael Yahaya and Emmanuel Amanyi- masterminded several kidnappings in Abuja, Jos and Kogi state.
It told the court that four of their alleged accomplices- Male Isiaka, lsmila Agege, Papa Alhaji and Blessing Ismila Agege, were currently at large.
Specifically, the charge which was endorsed by the Inspector General of Police, alleged that the Defendants had on October, last year, Kidnapped and took several persons on hostage, killed some of them and removed their vital parts at Kogi State, Jos and within the Abuja Judicial Division
They were accused of committing an offence contrary to section 1 and 11 of the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011.
FG alleged that the Defendants, armed with assorted weapons, robbed and dispossessed several persons of their belongings, including one Alhaji Ibrahim Abalaka, a resident of Adumu Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
It told the court that the Defendants were found with locally made pistols and other dangerous weapons, after they were arrested by security agents, following a tip-off by community leaders in Kogi state.
Though the Defendants mounted the dock to take their plea, the trial judge, Justice Binta Nyako stopped the registrar from reading the charges on the grounds that the Terrorism Prevention Act, 2011, had been repealed.
Following the order of the court, the Prosecution counsel, Mrs. Blessing Ezeala said the charges would be amended before the next adjourned date.
Meanwhile, counsel to the Defendants, Abu Muazu, Paul Abah and Oni Alexander, notified the court that they had filed applications for their clients to be released on bail pending the determination of the case against them.
Justice Nyako adjourned the matter until the 17th of October, this year and ordered the defendants to be remanded at the Keffi Correctional Center, Nasarawa State.
RADIO NIGERIA