The Benue Police Command on Wednesday arraigned Mrs. Queen Akwaza, wife of a wanted criminal suspect, Terwase Akwaza, over alleged refusal to disclose her husband’s whereabouts.
Mrs. Akwaza, who appeared before a Makurdi Chief Magistrate’s Court, was charged with criminal conspiracy, screening of armed robbery and kidnapping suspects, and acts of terrorism.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mr Hyacinth Gbakor, are punishable under sections 1(2)(b), 6(a)(b)(c) of the robbery and firearms acts, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and section 1(2) of Terrorism (prevention)(Amendment) Act, 2013.
Gbakor told the court that on June 15, 2017 a team of Police Joint Task Force Patrol, led by Mr Simon Majinga, arrested eight persons, who were arraigned in the same court, on July 7, for the same crimes.
He said that Mrs. Akwaza was among the suspects, but was still at large, at the time of that arrest.
“The team reported that the suspects were carrying out acts of kidnapping, hostage taking and terrorism. It said that the criminals, led by Akwaza, his wife, Queen, and one Teryima Ihimbe, operated around Katsina-Ala, Kwande, Ukum and Vandeikya areas of Benue.
According to the prosecution, during police investigation, it was also discovered that Mrs. Akwaza was the brain behind the kidnappings and other nefarious acts spearheaded by Zendedoo Tsekaa, one of the suspects arraigned earlier.
Gbakor said that Mrs. Akwaza was arrested on July 7, 2017 and she confessed to the crimes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that though no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction, the accused person, in a statement to the police, claimed that her husband used charm on her, which hypnotised her into marrying him.
She claimed that her husband had touched her on the buttocks in the market and she followed him immediately afterwards.
“Immediately after that ‘touch’, I followed him and have been living with him since then.
“I am his 33rd wife; any woman he touches, ends up with him,” she stated.
The suspect claimed that the only child from the union, a girl, was killed and buried by the husband.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Isaac Ajim, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter to Aug. 8, for further mention.
Ajim also ordered the prison authority to give her a comprehensive medical check up.
The offences, according to the prosecutor, Mr Hyacinth Gbakor, are punishable under sections 1(2)(b), 6(a)(b)(c) of the robbery and firearms acts, laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and section 1(2) of Terrorism (prevention)(Amendment) Act, 2013.
Gbakor told the court that on June 15, 2017 a team of Police Joint Task Force Patrol, led by Mr Simon Majinga, arrested eight persons, who were arraigned in the same court, on July 7, for the same crimes.
He said that Mrs. Akwaza was among the suspects, but was still at large, at the time of that arrest.
“The team reported that the suspects were carrying out acts of kidnapping, hostage taking and terrorism. It said that the criminals, led by Akwaza, his wife, Queen, and one Teryima Ihimbe, operated around Katsina-Ala, Kwande, Ukum and Vandeikya areas of Benue.
According to the prosecution, during police investigation, it was also discovered that Mrs. Akwaza was the brain behind the kidnappings and other nefarious acts spearheaded by Zendedoo Tsekaa, one of the suspects arraigned earlier.
Gbakor said that Mrs. Akwaza was arrested on July 7, 2017 and she confessed to the crimes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that though no plea was taken for want of jurisdiction, the accused person, in a statement to the police, claimed that her husband used charm on her, which hypnotised her into marrying him.
She claimed that her husband had touched her on the buttocks in the market and she followed him immediately afterwards.
“Immediately after that ‘touch’, I followed him and have been living with him since then.
“I am his 33rd wife; any woman he touches, ends up with him,” she stated.
The suspect claimed that the only child from the union, a girl, was killed and buried by the husband.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr Isaac Ajim, ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the matter to Aug. 8, for further mention.
Ajim also ordered the prison authority to give her a comprehensive medical check up.
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