The Taraba State Chief Judge, Justice Joel Agya, has ordered the State’s Commissioner of Police, Mr David Iloyanomon, to immediately effect the arrest and prosecution of a former chairman of Takum local government area council, Hon. Shiban Tikari, over the abduction and killing of a member of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hon. Hosea Ibi, in 2017.
LEADERSHIP recalls that Ibi, the then serving member representing Takum 1 constituency in the Taraba State Assembly, was abducted in Takum on December 30, 2017 and was few days later found dead.
CJ Agya gave the order while delivering judgement in the case between the State Vs Mwarga Iormbaga and one other, who were arrested and charged over the late lawmaker’s abduction and killing.
The Chief Judge, who sentenced the two defendants to life imprisonment for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping, expressed dismay over the failure of the Police to arrest and prosecute Mr Tikari, the then chairman of Takum Local Government Council, who was linked to the crime.
“I am dismayed over the failure of the Police to arrest and prosecute Shiban Tikari despite all the evidence that he ordered the abduction and killing of Ibi after collecting ransom.
“The charge of culpable homicide punishable by death is not proved beyond reasonable doubt by the prosecuting counsel against the defendants and they stand acquitted.
“I want to urge the Commissioner of Police in the state to revisit this case to ensure that true justice prevails so that the late lawmaker’s soul, which must be crying for justice, will rest in peace.
“The defendants in their separate confessional statements said Tikari asked them to abduct Ibi so that the ransom would be used in purchasing arms to fight herdsmen in the area but later instructed their leader, one Terkula, to kill the victim,” the CJ said.
Counsel to the defendants, Mr Mahanar Puki, while reacting to the judgement, wondered why Tikari, who has been mentioned by all the defendants as the principal actor in the incident, was not arrested by the Police for prosecution.
The prosecuting counsel, Mr Abubakar Mustapha, also expressed surprise at the failure of the Police to arrest and prosecute the former Takum LGA chairman despite glaring evidence linking him to the abduction and killing of the lawmaker.
Mustapha noted that he would use the directive of the Chief Judge in the judgement to engage the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) to take the necessary action to ensure justice in the case.
