The Kaduna State High Court, Dogarawa Zaria, has admitted a video recording of an interview involving a defendant, Idris Mustapha, in a high-profile kidnapping case.
[ad]
The court admitted the clip as evidence after it was tendered by the prosecution during a hearing yesterday. The prosecution, led by Mrs Lucia Mamman, presented the video through a witness, Alhaji Aliyu Babankarfi, a reporter with Aminiya. Babankarfi testified that he recorded the clip in January 2021 during an interview with suspects detained at the Danmagaji Divisional Police Headquarters, Zaria.

According to Babankarfi, he and other reporters had visited the police station and requested interviews with suspects, including Mustapha, who allegedly confessed to his involvement in several kidnappings.

Babankarfi said he filmed the interview on his mobile phone and later submitted the footage to his employer, Media Trust, for publication. The Kaduna State Ministry of Justice later requested the video, describing it as crucial to their case.

The prosecution applied for the video to be played in court and admitted as evidence, citing compliance with Section 84 of the Evidence Act. However, defence counsel Mr Mohammed Baba opposed the application, arguing that the disc lacked proper identification of its origin.

Justice Abdulkadir-Sabo Mahmud ruled in favour of the prosecution, admitting the video as Exhibit P1 and its certificate of compliance as Exhibit P2. The judge adjourned the case to January 29, 2025, for further hearing.

Mustapha and his co-defendant, Isah Ibrahim (still at large), are facing a two-count charge of kidnapping under Kaduna State Penal Code Law No. 5 of 2017.
They are accused of abducting four residents of Nagoyi, Zaria, on January 28, 2021, and collecting N14 million as ransom before releasing the victims.
[ad]