Killing Of Lawmaker: Taraba Chief Judge Orders Arrest Of Ex-LG Boss, Tikari

Hon. Shiban Tikari

The Chief Judge of Taraba State, Justice Joel Agya, has instructed the Commissioner of Police, Mr. David Iloyanomon, to promptly arrest and prosecute former Takum local government area council chairman, Hon. Shiban Tikari, in connection with the abduction and murder of Taraba State House of Assembly member, Hon. Hosea Ibi, in 2017.

According to reports, Hon. Ibi, who represented Takum 1 constituency in the Taraba State Assembly at the time, was abducted in Takum on December 30, 2017, and subsequently found dead a few days later.

Justice Agya issued this order during the delivery of judgment in the case involving the State versus Mwarga Iormbaga and another individual, who was apprehended and charged in connection with the abduction and killing of the late lawmaker.

Despite convicting the two defendants of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and kidnapping, and sentencing them to life imprisonment, the Chief Judge expressed disappointment at the police's failure to apprehend and prosecute Mr. Tikari, the former chairman of Takum Local Government Council, who was implicated in the crime.

"I am dismayed by the police's inability to arrest and prosecute Shiban Tikari, despite ample evidence indicating his involvement in ordering the abduction and killing of Ibi after ransom was paid. The charge of culpable homicide punishable by death has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt against the defendants, and they are acquitted," stated the CJ.

Justice Agya urged the Commissioner of Police to reopen the case to ensure that true justice prevails, allowing the late lawmaker's soul to rest in peace.

"The defendants, in their individual confessions, stated that Tikari instructed them to abduct Ibi to raise ransom money for purchasing arms to combat herdsmen in the area but later instructed their leader, one Terkula, to kill the victim," the CJ added.

Responding to the judgment, counsel for the defendants, Mr. Mahanar Puki, questioned why Tikari, who was identified by all defendants as the main actor in the incident, had not been arrested by the Police for prosecution.

Similarly, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Abubakar Mustapha, expressed astonishment at the Police's failure to apprehend and prosecute the former Takum LGA chairman despite overwhelming evidence linking him to the abduction and murder of the lawmaker.

Mustapha indicated that he would leverage the Chief Judge's directive in the judgment to engage the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) to take appropriate action to ensure justice in the case.