A Makurdi Chief Magistrates’ Court has remanded a man who reportedly attempted to murder Benue Commissioner for Power and Transport, Mr Omale Omale, in a correctional facility.
Justine Yongu, 32, who resides behind Mobile Barracks in Makurdi, has been charged with criminal conspiracy, assault occasioning harm, attempted culpable homicide, and an act of terrorism.
When the case was mentioned, Yongu rejected his plea for lack of jurisdiction.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Kelvin Mbanongun, delayed the matter till March 27 for further consideration.
Previously, the prosecution, Insp. Jonah Uletu, informed the court that the defendant committed the offenses on January 1 at Daudu, the location of the Guma State Constituency’s bye election.
Uletu stated that the State CID in Makurdi received a distress call from the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the Government House, CSP Bernard Adaka, who reported that several hoodlums armed with hazardous weapons and headed by Yongu had entered the primaries venue.
Adaka reported the police that the hoodlums viciously beat up Omale, inflicting various degrees of injury on him, and causing him to collapse on the spot.
According to the prosecutor, after receiving the information, members of the Operation Zenda Joint Task Force, commanded by ASP Isah Yusuf, responded quickly to the area and apprehended Yongu, while others ran into a nearby bush.
Uletu stated that during the police investigation, it was established that Yongu and his gang members were infamous hoodlums, armed robbers, and violent political thugs who terrorized Daudu residents and motorists on the Makurdi-Lafia road.
He said that their criminal pasts had caused immense hardships for the people of Guma, Makurdi, and the state as whole.
According to Uletu, the acts violated sections 97, 266, and 230 of the Benue Penal Code of 2004.
He further claimed that the offenses violated Section 4(2) of Benue’s 2017 law prohibiting abduction, hostage taking, kidnapping, secret cults, and similar activities.
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