MUHAMMAD ALIYU reports that a wave of jubilations swept through the Jigawa state political space when a Dutse Magistrate Court granted bail to PDP stalwarts remanded in prison custody over allegations of criminal conspiracy and criminal breach of trust, among others
The chief Magistrate Court sitting in Dutse yesterday granted bail to state PDP chairman Alhaji Salisu Mamuda, ex commissioners of Finance, Nasiru Umar, local government, Salisu Saleh Indirawa, Alhaji Shehu Umar Chamo, former state Algon Chairman Muntari Ibrahim and ex,chairman of Kirikasamma llcal government Council Alhaji Abba Muhammad Daguro who were arrested by the police and arraigned in Court last Thursday, and remanded in Kiyawa Prison Custody.
The six accused who were standing trial four -count charge of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, disobedient to office rule and cheating, were arrested by the police and arraigned in the court on Thursday May, 18,2017.
The presiding Chief magistrate Usman Mohamamed Lamin, granted the accused bail under section 341 [subsectio2] of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria even though , the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution counsel, who is the state Director, Public Prosecution[DPP], Musam Muhammad Imam, has objected their bail application and argued that granting bail to the accused may cause public disorder in the state considering the gravity of their offence.
Our Correspondent reports that armed mobile policemen who besieged the court premise fired canisters of teargas to disperse hundreds of people believed to be PDP supporters who were in court for solidarity.
Speaking to newsmen after the sitting, the defense counsel Barrister Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba, said they applied for bail and met all necessary requirements since on last Thursday, but the presiding Magistrate adjoined the case till today [Yesterday, Tuesday May 2O17] where he used his expertise and vast experience to consider their bail application and released the accused on bail.
He added that section 211 of the 1999 Constitution gives power to the presiding Judge to release the accused on bail pointed out that case has been adjoined to 3rd July 2017 for continuation of hearing ofthe case.
