In an Imo State High Court hearing on Friday, 6 November 2026, Justice Emeka Orafu announced that a judgment will be delivered on 16 December 2026 in the case HOU/22C/2026. The suit, filed against Usman Aliyu, Babangida Aliyu and Mohamed Ali, accuses the three men of involvement in the kidnapping of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who were en route to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom States.
The court heard the third witness, Mohammed Ali, a Kogi State native who tends cattle in Kara, Aba. His counsel, Mr Paschal Oforma, led him to testify that he was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) while at Kara, taken to Owerri and detained. Mr Ali stated he knows nothing about the kidnapping, denies any knowledge of the other defendants, and says he has lived in Aba for about two years as a herdsman. He also confirmed that he knows the first defendant (DW1) and sees him in the mosque, but does not know the second defendant (DW2).
During cross‑examination by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mr Martins Udolwu, Mr Ali described his daily routine of sending two boys to manage the cows and returned them in the evening. He also mentioned that he had written a statement and filled a form in the presence of his counsel. The court laughed when Mr Ali briefly claimed he had been beaten before an audio‑visual recording was made, only to retract the statement that the DSS had not beaten him.
Justice Orafu praised the counsel on both sides for “responding very well” as the case progressed. He gave the defense seven days, from Saturday 7 November, to file their briefs and the prosecution five days, from Saturday 14 November, to file a response. The matter was adjourned to 24 November for the adoption of addresses before the final judgment date.
The case follows the abduction of 20 NYSC members travelling to their orientation camps, a serious incident that has drawn attention to security concerns for young Nigerians during their mandatory service period.
The court will resume on 24 November to adopt the parties’ addresses, and the judgment is expected on 16 December 2026, according to the judge’s schedule.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
