The defendants admit voluntarily recording and thumb-printing their statements in the presence of their lawyers as trial continues.
Two men standing trial over the abduction of 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Imo State have admitted making the written and audio-visual confessional statements tendered by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The defendants, Usman Aliyu and Babangida Aliyu, made the admission during cross-examination on Thursday, confirming that they voluntarily recorded the statements and thumb-printed the written confessions in the presence of their lawyers.
However, both men pleaded with the court to forgive them and set them free in the case involving charges of conspiracy, hostage-taking and unlawful possession of firearms.
In a related case, another two defendants facing kidnapping and firearms-related charges were identified by a prosecution witness as the men who allegedly abducted him for ransom on October 4, 2026.
At the end of proceedings, the trial judge, Justice Emeka Orafu, adjourned both cases until November 6 for continuation.