By Sadiq Abubakar
Maiduguri
A Borno state High Court has ordered the immediate release of Abuja-based publisher, Inuwa Bwala, who was two weeks ago arrested by the police and detained in Maiduguri for alleged attempted murder.
Justice Hadiza, Jos of the Borno state High Court Number 14, said it was unlawful for the police to detain an accused beyond two days without trial.
The judge also faulted the police for detaining Bwala, despite his health condition, saying that the matter for which he was being charged “does not warrant such treatment.”
The publisher, who was detained alongside his driver, was in court to challenge the police for breaching their rights, for which they are demanding N2 billion as compensation.
Bwala, a former commissioner for home affairs, information and culture, was picked on his way to his office in Abuja by a police squad, deployed from the Borno state command, and taken to Borno where he was detained without trial.
The state Commissioner of Police, Damian Chukwu, said Bwala was arrested in connection with the attempted murder of the state deputy governor, Usman Durkwa, who was attacked during the 2015 election when he was serving as a commissioner.
Durkwa was beaten to stupor by a mob that left him unconscious; he sued five persons, including Bwala, as those that wanted to kill him.
Bwala, who insisted that he was not in his hometown, Marama, when the attack on the deputy governor was carried out at the place, denied the allegation.
The health condition of the former commissioner, a diabetic, reportedly relapsed while he was locked up in the police cell and denied access to his medication.
Speaking to newsmen, the lead council to Bwala, Zanna Hamza, said the publisher and his driver, Muhammed Audu, are asking the court to compel the police to release them, apologise and grant them a N2 billion compensation for damages.
“The application was filed on January 24, 2017 and it was taken on Friday, because it was an ex-parte. And then this morning Her Lordship granted order ordering the police to release the applicant, that is Inuwa Bwala and his driver, Muhammed Audu, pending the hearing of the originating of the originating summons which is for February 7, 2017.”
