The suspected killers of the late Village Head of Lammbata, Alhaji Muhammad Abdulsafur, last Monday at Suleja High Court number three, threatened to deal with journalists who were in court to report the resumed trial of the case.
The suspects, who were granted bail by the presiding high court judge, Justice Aisha Bawa Wodu, vowed to deal with journalists should they continue to report their appearances in court.
The suspects, 15 in number, manhandled the NTA and NSTV cameramen and some journalists who were on the court premises recording the event; the suspects forcefully pounced on the harmless journalists who were carrying out their lawful duty.
They even threatened to deal with the newsmen should they continue to record and report the court proceedings against them.
It took the intervention of the court registrar and their counsel to bring the ugly situation under control, with a warning from the suspects that henceforth, journalists should stop reporting the court proceedings. "If not, we are ready to deal with any journalists that dare to write anything about us," they boasted.
However, there was confusion during the resumed hearing on Monday when one of the suspects in detention awaiting trial at the Minna Correctional Custody was granted bail by Minna High Court number six while he was to be produced in court to join other suspects for his trial.
He was, however, not produced from the Minna Correctional Custody, as he was said to have been granted bail by a Minna High Court number six.
The said suspect was remanded along with other suspects standing trial at Minna Senior Magistrate Court number seven on the same charges.
A prosecuting state counsel in the office of the Attorney General in Niger State, Barrister Halidu Umar, told the court that he received information that he was granted bail on the ground that the name on the charge sheet was not his name, which was the ground that a lawyer approached the court for his bail and was granted.
At this point, Justice Aisha Bawa Wodu then directed the registrar of Minna High Court number six to reach out to his surety to produce the suspect in Suleja High Court to face his trial on the next adjourned date.
She then adjourned the case to March 14, 2024, for hearing, while the arrested suspect, on the order of Justice Aisha Bawa, was remanded in correctional custody.
The Hisbah unit of the Niger State Shari'ah Commission has inaugurated the uniform members of the Minna Emirate Hisbah unit.
The Executive Secretary of the commission, Rufa'i Hashim, who stood in for the Grand Khadi of the state, Musa Muhammad Kigera, during the inauguration ceremony at Justice Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, said the Hisbah unit had been in existence since the regime of Late Engr. Abdulkadir Ƙure but was neglected by the successive administrations.
He disclosed that there were Hisbah units across all eight Emirates councils in the state that were taken care of by the Emirate councils, adding that the event was to revive the unit to be visible and more effective.
The executive secretary of the commission observed that the moral decadence amongst the youths in the state was getting out of hand, stressing the need to strengthen the unit to function effectively and assist in correcting the menace in our society.
He further disclosed that the law establishing the commission and the Hisbah unit was still in existence, saying that with the support of the state government and other relevant stakeholders, the unit will measure up to its counterparts in Kano, Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto states.
He added that the Hisbah was currently operating in five local government areas of the Emirate to sanitise our communities, namely Chanchaga, Bosso, Paikoro, Munya, and Shiroro, saying it is the hope of the commission to see the Hisbah unit stand on its feet and measure up with those in other states.
The state Hisbah Commander General, Aliyu Usman Sarki, disclosed that the Hisbah unit had done well during the time of the late Engr. Abdulkadir Ƙure, where they recorded a lot of achievements.
He said the unit serves as police to the state liquor board and also preaches during the collection of Zakkat, adding that the unit also ensures that the measuring materials in our markets are accurate.
The Commander General added that the state Shari'ah commission has only two units, the Hisbah and the Da'awa units, disclosing that their officers were well trained by the law enforcement agents in the state to carry out their functions.
He maintained that the Hisbah is neither the police force nor any of the security agencies, but a unit under the Shari'ah commission that collaborates with the law enforcement agencies to sanitise and bring peace to our communities.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Cikasoron Minna, Alhaji Yahaya Babangida, and Amb. Jibrin Abdullahi observed that moral decadence was on the rise in the state, particularly in the Minna Emirate, and urged members of the Hisbah organisation to work without fear or favour.
Highlights of the occasion were the decorations of the advisory board members of the organisation and some of the officials.
