Five persons suspected to have masterminded the kidnapping of some students and staff of the Nigeria Tulip International School in Isheri Ogun State have pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
However, the prosecutor, Alilu Kayode said the police were ready to prove the charges against the accused persons who were arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
The suspected kidnap masterminds had earlier confessed to the crime and opened up on other ills they committed in the past.
The trial judge, Justice James Tsoho ordered that they be remanded in Kuje prison pending their trial which has been fixed for September 28.
It could be recalled that suspected gunmen invaded the school, formerly known as Turkish International School on January 14, in a white Hilux, and whisked away five students and two teachers who they released from captivity after 11 days.
Thereafter, the kidnappers demanded a sum of N1.2 billion as a ransom for the victims to regain their freedom.
However, they reduced their earlier request of N1.2 billion to N750 million. A ransom worth millions was reportedly paid through a negotiator.
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