A statement issued in Lokoja on Wednesday by the Public Relations Officer of the state Ministry of Justice, Mr Saeed Saqeeb, said that the judge was released in Okene area at about 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Usman was returning to Lokoja when he was kidnapped at gun point on Itakpe-Okene road on June 12.

``The judge has since reunited with his family members,’’ Saqeeb said in the statement.

His police orderly, Cpl. Abubakar Aba, was shot dead by the abductors while his driver was also shot severally.