Yakubu Busari
Plateau state High Court sitting in Jos division under Justice Nafisa Lawal, has granted bail application pending before it, by two detained members of the Shi’ite Islamic group in Jos.
The duo of Idris Muhammad and Auwal Husaini, were arrested on the 31st March, 2018, by men of the Operations Save Haven (OPSH), and are being charged of conspiracy and unlawful procession.
However, counsel to the accused Panshak Pampe, told the court that on 4th June, 2018, filed a motion seeking for the court to grant the accused bail.
“My lord, the application is seeking to admit the cussed/applicants bail pending trial and for such further orders as this honourable court may deem it fit..,” he urged.
Counsel Pampe, urged the court to grant the relief sought by the accused/ applicants in the interest of justice, saying since the alleged offence are bailable
However, prosecution counsel, G.D. Fomomyon, in his counter affidavit, prayed the court to disconsonance the relief sought by the applicants.
“That the applicants being members of a religious group called Shiites have the tendency of going back to their unlawful assembly,” he told court.
Fomomyon therefore, appealed to the court to decline the relief sought by the applicants
Justice Lawal, adjourned the suit for ruling on the bail application to19th July, 2018, and slated for 25th July, 2018 for substantive hearing on the matter.
Similarly, Justice Mohammed Sirajo, of high court 3, has adjourned a suit filed against Major-General Anthony Atolakpe, by members of the Shi’ite Islamic Group.
The suit which came up for hearing in the court was challenging the arrests and detention of two members of the Shi’ite, Idris Muhammad and Auwal Usaini, by men of Operations Safe Haven (OPSH), on the 31st March, 2018.
However, plaintiff counsel, Panshak Pampe, told the court that though the matter was slated for hearing, he was yesterday morning served with motion on notice by the defence counsel.
The defence counsel A. Dogara, who also confirmed to the court, further said the motion was seeking for extension of time to file their counter affidavit, on the charges, of unlawful arrest and detention and bridge of fundamental human rights.
Justice Sirajo, slated 4th July, 2018, for hearing on the matter.
