Callistus Agwaza, Jalingo
A Taraba state high court sitting in Jalingo, has sentenced Mwarga Iormbaga and Aondona Iorungwa to life imprisonment for kidnapping and killing of Hosea Ibi, in 2017.
Ibi, who was at the time, a member of the state assembly, representing Takum 1, state constituency, was abducted in Takum on December 30, 2017, by gunmen.
He was later murdered by his abductors even after a ramsom was paid for his release.
Delivering judgement in the matter on Monday, the presiding judge, Justice Joel Agya, chief judge of the state, convicted the defendants on three count charge of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and kidnapping and sentence them to life imprisonment.
He however acquitted and discharge them on the charge on culpable homicide which is punishable by death, stating that the prosecution failed to proved it beyond reasonable doubt.
Agya expressed dismay over the failure of the police to arrest and prosecute Shiban Tikari, a former council chairman of Takum LGA who was allegedly linked to the incident.
The judge ordered the state police commissioner to arrest and prosecute the former council chairman for alleged abduction and murder.
“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.
“I want to urge the commissioner of police in the state to revisit this case to ensure that true justice prevails so that the soul of the late lawmaker, 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 judge said.
