Four persons accused of the abduction and murder of Samaila Yinusa, a Nigerian Army Colonel, have been arraigned before a magistrate court sitting in Kaduna.

Yinusa was allegedly abducted and killed on March 27 in Kaduna State. His body was later discovered along the Abuja-Kaduna highway two days after he was kidnapped.

The four suspects are: Emeka Okeke, Kabir Ibrahim, Chijoke Ugwuanyi and Ebele Precious.

When they were paraded by the Kaduna State Police Command, they confessed to kidnapping and stealing the army officer’s car but Okeke, the gang leader, denied killing him, saying the colonel died from a gunshot he fired himself.

They were charged with criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, armed robbery and culpable homicide which is punishable by death under certain sections of the penal code.

The Magistrate said the court lacks the jurisdiction to try such cases but he added that the purpose of bringing the suspects before him was for them to be remanded in prison pending when investigations will be completed by the police, and they could be charged before a court of competent jurisdiction.

He adjourned the matter till July 21.