By Boluwatife Akinola

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The Ondo State Police command has arraigned three labourers before an Akure Magistrate Court over alleged abducting and attempting to kill a police officer on duty.

The defendants David Nhamie, 32, Abel Vincent, 32; and Jacob Tseghan, 25 were charged on six counts bordering on attempted conspiracy, murder, assault, armed robbery, and abduction.

 The prosecution counsel, I.O. Osobu, informed the court that the defendants committed the offense on December 4, 2023, at about 6 am at Olowofariwo, Camp via Idanre, Ondo State.

 Osobu said the defendant and others at large while armed with cutlasses and other dangerous weapons conspired to abduct one police officer, Teniola Alaba, and assaulted him by inflicting life-threatening injuries on his head and hand.

The prosecutor also alleged that the defendants attempted to kill the officer through their act while acting in the execution of his duty.

The defendants while armed were also said to have robbed the victim of his cash and various belongings, including a handset, wristwatch, police identification card, and eyeglasses all valued at N100,000.

 The offence committed contravenes Sections 320, 355, 356, and 406 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. I, of Ondo State, Nigeria, 2006. Section 3(ii)(b) of the Ondo State Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Abduction Law, 2010.

The plea of the defendants was not taken.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants through an application to remand the defendant pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The defense counsel, G.O. Bernard prayed for an adjournment to enable him file a counter affidavit to the application

Magistrate Damilola Sekoni ordered that the defendants should be taken to  Olokuta Correctional Centre and adjourned the case till January 10, 2024 for ruling.