- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arraigned 11 arrested suspects linked to the death of Arise TV’s journalist, Somtochukwu Maduagwu, and a security guard, Barnabas Danlami.
Months after confirming the arrest of the suspected armed robbers, the FCT Police Command, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, disclosed that they have been arraigned to court.
Adeh disclosed that the suspects, who were identified in the statement, were arraigned on a nine-count charge bothering on criminal conspiracy, and murder.
The court however adjourned the case till February for further proceedings.
The statement read; “The FCT Police Command has today, 21st January 2026, arraigned eleven (11) suspects linked to the murder of Ms. Somtochukwu Christella Maduagwu, Esq., an Anchor, Reporter, and Producer with ARISE News, and Mr. Barnabas Danlami, a security guard, who were killed during a robbery incident at Unique Apartments, Katampe Extension, Mabushi, Abuja, on 29th September 2025.
“The suspects arraigned before the court include:
1. Shamsu Hassan
2. Sani Sirajo
3. Hassan Isah
4. Abubakar Alkamu
5. Abdulsalam Saleh
6. Suleiman Badamasi
7. Zaharadeen Mohammed
8. Musa Umar (aka “Small”)
9. Mashkur Jamil
10. Suleiman Sani
11. Abubakar Usman.
“The suspects were arraigned on a nine (9) count charge including criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and murder.
“The matter has been adjourned to February 2026 for further proceedings.”