Murder, Culpable Homicide Case: Court Dismisses Bail Applications Of Shehu Jatau & 3 Others In Plateau

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Yakubu Busari

A State High Court sitting in the Jos Division of Plateau State on Thursday has dismissed the application for bail brought by the counsel to the four accused persons standing trial of murder, culpable homicide, criminal, and conspiracy against the Tarok community of Ease Local Government Council of Plateau State.

Justice S.P.Gang in his ruling dismissed the application for bail of Shehu Jatau and three others for killing of 17 people in the Dam 1 of the Kadarko district of Wase, given reasons why Shehu Jatau,  Nanjul Nanbol can’t be granted bail under section 173,174 of the administration of criminal act of justice under the 1999 constitution predicated.

 

According to him, the defendants earlier filed seeking for bail which is contained in 17 paragraphs attached with the affidavit and further in section 175 of Plateau state evidence act.

 

He said the application shows that the deteriorating health of the first accused person, Shehu Jatau, and three others but frowned that the accused person didn’t attach any medical report neither did he show the type of illness he is suffering from.

 

The judge ruled that granting bail might intimidate and that can temper with the remaining 9 witnesses coming to testify because going by his records and his boys Shehu Jatau has been terrorizing, harassing, and committing crimes of unleashing havoc on the remaining witness coming to provide credible evidence.

 

He explained that based on the records of proceedings available to this court a high court in Langtang North had once invited Shehu Jatau and his boys where the matter is still pending, so this is an indication that the accused persons can’t honor his words.

 

Justice Gang adjourned the suit to the 4th and 24th of March, 2021 for the continuation of hearing and taking of more of the witnesses.

 

However, testifying before Justice S.P. Gang was the Ponzhi Dam 1, Chief Poyi Buba Jingfa told the court how Shehu Jatau and his boys invaded his community killing about four people destroying houses, and stealing 200 heads of goats and 100 sheep belonging to him.

 

Chief Poyi Jingfa a farmer and the village head of Dam 1 narrated that he identified the accused persons standing trial of heinous crimes against the Tarok speaking natives, also started that sometimes on 15-09-2015 when he traveled to Mabudi the headquarters of Langtang South LGA on a condolences visit his in-law.

 

He added that while he returned at about 4:13 pm he saw pandemonium and everyone was running for his or her dear lives and smoke was everywhere and women and children were crying for help so he hid inside an uncompleted building close to the road when he saw Shehu Jatau and his boys shooting towards where he was hiding, he escaped through the nearby bush to avoid being killed.

 

He told the court that the following morning he managed to enter Dam 1 and found dead bodies of Maijamaa, Nanpon, Nansak others laying lifeless and his house was demolished including his 300 animals taken away and lives and properties involved.

 

The Second witness was PW4, The Youth leader of Jawuri, Mr. Nansak Sindep explained his experiences on how Shehu Jatau and his boys are doing to the Tarok in Jawuri, Boltak where the said Shehu Jatau imposed a tax for all farmers farming in Jawuri, Boltak to be paying him N60,000.00 every farming season.

 

Sindep said that brought about the disagreement between Shehu Jatau and Chief Lot Nden the Ponzhi Tarok of Wase LGA saying, the two settlement didn’t belong to Taraba state but is under the control of Plateau State, so no need of imposing an illegal tax to pay Shehu Jatau whose now is resident in Kurmi of Taraba state.

 

He maintained that one Nanbol Danjuma and Ponjul Bulus were sent by Ponzhi Lot Nden to Ciroma Arewa and briefed him of the tax invasion going on but the Ciroma agreed that the N60,000.00 demanded by Shehu Jatau and his boys should be granted to him in Kurmi knowing that the place is under Taraba state.

 

Nansak also said that Shehu Jatau issued out a threat warning them that anyone who refuses to comply with his order should leave Jawuri, Boltak said the youth employed soldiers to the scene where this massacre happened but it appeared Shehu was prepared to battle against the army and the Plateau state government, where he vehemently resisted effort of the government to stop this.

 

He disclosed that one Shehu Jatau and his boys invaded Jawuri, Boltak killings, 11 people, for refusing to pay the sum of ransom he is asking them to pay him and brought his own family to settle in that Boltak community.

 

Nansak stated that with incessant attacks and killing of innocent residents in Jawuri, Boltak, Dam 1, and others, the matter was reported to Divisional Police Headquarters in Wase LGA and the security personnel was drafted to the communities and they saw the dastardly act of brutality of Shehu Jatau.

 

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