The Imo State High Court has scheduled four consecutive days of hearings for five men accused of kidnapping prospective members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), urging the prosecution and defence to work towards concluding the cases before January 2027.

Justice Emeka Orafu fixed October 27 to 30 for further proceedings in two separate cases involving three defendants accused of abducting 20 prospective corps members on Independence Day and two others facing charges in an unrelated kidnapping case.

At Thursday’s hearing, a Department of State Services (DSS) officer, Ikem Emmanuel, testified about the investigation that led to the arrest of the three defendants in the NYSC-related case.

Emmanuel told the court that investigators relied on intelligence gathering, data analysis, record checks, interviews and statements obtained from the defendants, victims and witnesses.

He said an identification parade was conducted, during which victims and witnesses allegedly identified the defendants as members of the gang responsible for the abduction.

The DSS officer further testified that one of the defendants, Usman Aliyu, admitted in his statement to participating in the operation and allegedly disclosed that 11 people were involved in the kidnapping.

Emmanuel maintained that the defendants made their statements in the presence of their lawyers and DSS legal officers. He also gave evidence on the investigation into the separate case involving the other two defendants, stating that their statements were recorded under similar conditions.

After the proceedings, Justice Orafu adjourned both cases to October 27, 28, 29 and 30 for further hearing. He urged counsel on both sides to cooperate with the court to ensure the cases were concluded within the targeted timeframe.

The judge also ordered that all five defendants remain in DSS custody pending the continuation of their trials.