General Alkali killing: 9 more suspects for trial

A Plateau State High Court has granted application to the State Attorney General to take over prosecution of all suspects in connection with the killing of the immediate past Chief of Administration, Army Headquarters, Major General Idris Alkali (rtd).

Nine additional suspects were also brought to court yesterday but they were not arraigned as Justice Daniel Danjuma Longji adjourned the matter to December 17 for hearing of the application on the amendment charges as well as bail application. He ordered the nine additional suspects to return to police custody.

Nineteen suspects were earlier arraigned by the Plateau State Police Command on November 5 on a two-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide. The suspects had pleaded not guilty to all charges but were remanded in prison custody pending hearing on their bail application.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, the Plateau State Director of Public Prosecution, Gedalia Fomyon made an oral application on the instruction of the State Attorney General, Jonathan Ayuba Mawiyau to take over the case from the Police command.

Alkali, who was declared missing on September 3, had left Abuja for Bauchi via Jos.

On September 29, his car and other personal effects were recovered in a pond in Dura-Du community of Jos South Local Government Area of the state; and his body was found on October 31 in an abandoned Well at Gushwet in Shen community of Jos South Local Government Area.

The military buried Abuja on November 3. Alkali in