Justice Joel Agya, the Chief Judge of Taraba State, has called upon Commissioner of Police David Iloyanomon to immediately apprehend and prosecute Shiban Tikari, the former chairman of Takum Local Government Council.
His call was a reaction to the abduction and subsequent killing of former Taraba Assembly member Hosea Ibi, who represented Takum 1 Constituency.
Justice Agya made the call during a court session on Monday in Jalingo while delivering judgement in the case involving the state versus Mwarga Iormbaga and another individual, both charged in connection with Ibi’s abduction and murder.
Despite the defendants receiving life imprisonment for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping, Justice Agya expressed disappointment in the police’s failure to detain and prosecute Tikari, who has been implicated in the incident.
“I am dismayed over the failure of the police to arrest and prosecute Shiban Tikari despite all the evidence that he ordered the abduction and killing of Ibi after collecting ransom,” stated Justice Agya.
The judge highlighted that testimonies from the defendants revealed Tikari’s alleged orchestration of the abduction with the intention of using the ransom to purchase arms for fighting against herdsmen in the area.
In reaction to the judgment, Barrister Mahanar Puki, counsel to the defendants, questioned why Tikari was not apprehended despite being implicated by all the defendants.
Similarly, prosecuting counsel Abubakar Mustapha expressed surprise at the police’s inaction, despite compelling evidence linking Tikari to the crime.
Mustapha vowed to leverage the judge’s remarks to engage the Department of Public Prosecution to ensure that appropriate action is taken to deliver justice in the case.