Two males standing trial over the Independence Day abduction of 20 potential members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Imo State on Thursday admitted making the confessional statements tendered earlier than the court docket by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The defendants, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu, who’re the primary and second defendants respectively, nevertheless, pleaded with the court docket to forgive them and set them free.
At the resumed listening to on Thursday, the 2 defendants opened their defence by testifying for themselves earlier than the court docket.
During cross-examination, they admitted voluntarily making the audio-visual confessional statements and thumb-printing the written statements within the presence of their counsel.
The statements and audio-visual recordings have been subsequently tendered by the DSS and admitted in proof by the court docket.
Earlier, whereas giving their evidence-in-chief, the defendants had appealed for forgiveness and urged the court docket to discharge and launch them within the case involving expenses of conspiracy, hostage-taking and illegal possession of firearms.
In a associated growth, the trial of two different defendants accused of conspiracy, kidnapping and illegal possession of firearms continued on Thursday.
A prosecution witness recognized the 2 defendants because the individuals who allegedly kidnapped him for ransom within the state on October 4, 2026.
At the conclusion of proceedings, the trial decide, Justice Emeka Orafu, adjourned each instances till November 6 for continuation of listening to.
