A Jigawa State Magistrate Court has remanded a former governor of the
state, Sule Lamido, in prison custody. Mr. Lamido is to be in the Dutse
prison until May 4 when applications for his bail will be decided, Chief
Magistrate Usman Lamin ruled.
The magistrate said he needed time to decide on the application for bail
and another on the police’s First Investigation Report, FIR, brought as
evidence in the case.
Mr. Lamido is being prosecuted by Ikenna Ekpunobi who obtained a fiat by
the Jigawa State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Sani
Gabbas.
A copy of the fiat obtained by Mr. Ekpunobi and seen by Premium Times
shows that Mr. Lamido is being prosecuted on a four-count charge of
inciting disturbance contrary to section 114 of the Penal Code,
disturbance of public peace contrary to section 113 of the Penal Code,
defamation of character punishable under section 392 of the Penal Code
and criminal intimidation punishable under section 397 of the Penal
Code.
Mr. Ekpunobi was supported by two counsel, Yahya Basirka and Aliyu Kiyawa.
After the court ruling and despite the heavy presence of security
operatives at the court and around Dutse, protest by the former
governor’s supporters outside the court forced the police to use tear
gas to disperse the crowd.
Mr. Lamido was arrested on Sunday in Kano and his houses in Kano and
Jigawa searched. He was brought to Jigawa on Tuesday morning.
