Rukuba-Road Commuters Massacre’s: Court Arraign 9 Persons Including Minor In Jos High Court
Yakubu Busari
The Nigeria police on Monday arraigned 9 persons before a state High Court for alleged killings of commuters at Rukuba with dangerous weapons, knives, daggers, swords, an act which is punishable with death and that is contrary to sections 188 and 189 of the penal code law of culpable homicide.
The prosecutor, Mrs. Muleng Alex, O/C legal of Plateau state Police Command Monday, told the court that one Solomon Dung, a minor of 17 years old to be remanded in children custody instead of the correctional center.
The following persons were arraigned, Mr. Mathew Daniel 2 Jurbe Zamani,3 Dapar Sunday,4 Bernard Francis,5 Daniel Bulus,6 Solomon Dung 7Yakubu John 8 Stephen Ishaku,9 Yohanna Marshal allegedly involving the attacks that led to the death of Sule Alhaji Bechi, Mallam Ahmadu, Sidda Abubakar, Abdulkarim Mumini, Suleiman Hassan, Salisu Hailu, Mohammed Nura, Bello Ori, Abdulkarim SNU, Yakubu Mallam Bello ors in Jos North LGA.
Mrs. Muleng Alex order the court clerk to read the offenses committed by the defendants which was read to the accused persons and they all pleaded not guilty to committing the crimes.
The prosecutor seeks the leaf of the court if they can be given a short date to prove the allegation labeled against the accused persons with the belief that they have been served with the motion.
However, a 4 count charge was read to the accused persons which the counsel to the accused persons Barr. Yakubu Bawa opposed that the charge service was only affected on one person instead of all the accused persons.
Justice Ashom order that the remaining 9 accused persons be effect with proper service before the next adjourn dates which the 13-10-2021 for indefinite hearing.
The accused persons’ counsel, Barr. Yakubu Bawa made a passionate appeal to the court on the six(6) defendant who is a minor, Master Solomon Dung just 17 years of age empowered by the provision of section 175 of the Criminal Justice law of 2018.
He added that subsection C of the law under (1) , A-C subsection C which the application seek the court to release the 6 defendants on self-recognition or to be entered by his parents /guardian shows that he is bound to secure his own release not to be taken to the correctional centre .
The prosecutor submitted that the section cut by the defendants’ counsel is a misconception that the section indicates that at a point of arrest not arraigned on culpable homicide were the minor committed the offense by urging the court to overruled and allow the 6 accused person to be taken to children center at Laranto in Jos North where the children of his age are currently is serving.
Barr. Yakubu Bawa said they’re opposing their application because the defendants have filed his defense which is dated 24th September 2021 and file on the same date.
