Notorious Taraba-based kidnap kingpin, Hamisu Bala, popularly known as Wadume, was on Monday sentenced to seven years without an option of fine by Justice Binta Nyako after she found him guilty.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the trial which began in 2019 spanned a period of three years.
Wadume was found guilty of charges on counts two and 10 of the 13 counts brought against him and six others by the Attorney General of the Federation.
The presiding judge delivered the judgment on July 22 but obtained by newsmen on Sunday.
Read Also: How soldiers helped me escape from police custody – Wadume
Wadume was convicted on counts two and 10 bordering on escaping from lawful custody and unlawfully dealing in prohibited firearms.
Other defendants in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/30/2020 are: Aliyu Dadje (a police inspector), Auwalu Bala (aka omo razor), Uba Bala (aka Uba Delu), Bashir Wazlri (aka baba runs), Zubairu Abdullahi (aka Basho) and Rayyanu Abdul.
Africa Today News, New York recalls that in 2019, Wudume had narrated how he was rescued after the soldiers shot and killed the policemen while others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
He said: ‘I am Hamisu Bala, who is also known as Wadume. Policemen came to Ibi and arrested me and were taking me away when soldiers pursued them and opened fire on them, killing some policemen. From there, the soldiers took me to their headquarters and sawed off the handcuffs on me. After that, I ran away and I have been in hiding since then until the police re-arrested me.’
His re-arrest had at that time was believed to be one to open a can of worms as his preliminary statements to the police confirmed the force’s claim that soldiers of the 93 Battalion, Takum were complicit in his escape.