Alleged murderer of ex Gov. Dariye’s father who escaped prison, rearrested at a bank
Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
A murder suspect Jethro Ngusen who escaped from Jos Correctional Centre where he was remanded pending the conclusion of his trial has been re-arrested by officers of the Nigeria Police.
Ngusen is facing trial over alleged murder of Dariye Dafwan, father of former Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye.
Jethro Ngusen and six other defendants were remanded at the Jos Correctional Centre pending the conclusion of their trial.
Ngusen and other suspects were arrested in September 2021 by the police in connection with the murder of 92-year-old Dafwan. Dariye who was abducted by kidnappers and later murdered despite the payment of N10 million ransom.
The defendants were arraigned on charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, and murder.
Surprisingly, according to a petition by the Plateau Ministry of Justice, Ngusen was said to have been seen at a bank on July 30, 2023 attempting to withdraw money.
The Assistant director of Citizens’ Rights and Law reform at the ministry, J.I. Mantu said Ngusen was rearrested by police officers at the bank where he went to withdraw money.
The petition by the Ministry of Justice dated August 15, was addressed to the Divisional Police Officer of ‘A’ Division, Plateau State Police Command.
The Ministry stated that the arrest of Ngusen has “raised serious concerns about the potential escape, compromise, misuse of privileged or unauthorised activities”.
“The ministry is prosecuting Jethro Ngusen alongside six (6) other defendants in charge No: PLD/J203c/2021 — The People of Plateau State v. Ya’u Saidu Alias Ya’u Kaban and 6 others — for the offences of criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and murder, in the Plateau State High Court of Justice sitting at West of Mines, Jos before Hon. Justice G. D. Fwomyon,”
“The defendants have all been remanded at the Jos Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service pending trial following the order of the honourable Court.
“According to information available to the Ministry, Jethro Ngusen, an inmate remanded in custody of the Jos Correctional Centre was arrested by your officers on the 31st July, 2023 in a bank when he went to withdraw money and the attention of your division was drawn to that fact from the bank, leading to his arrest by your officers.”
The ministry has therefore asked the police to provide details on the investigation, evidence, legal proceedings and the whereabouts of the defendant.