Justice Aisha Wodu Bawa of High Court 3 Suleja, Niger State in a significant ruling has issued a directive to the Area Commander, Suleja, ACP Sani Musa, ordering the apprehension of five individuals suspected of involvement in the tragic murder of the village head of Lambata, Alhaji Muhammad Abdulsafur.
These suspects, allegedly actively engaged in the heinous act that claimed the life of the traditional ruler back in January 2023, have managed to evade law enforcement authorities, prompting the court’s intervention.
The prosecuting counsel, Halilu Umar, a chief state counsel in the Ministry of Justice, informed Justice Aisha Bawa Wodu that an additional five suspects implicated in the monarch’s killing were freely moving about in Lambata without facing legal consequences.
The individuals currently evading arrest are Dauda Umar Sarki, Hamza Umar Sarki, Yusuf Chaska, Zubairu Dambaka, and Abdulkareem Dantani. Umar urged the court to instruct Police Area Commander ACP Sani Musa to pursue these suspects actively, ensuring their apprehension and subsequent prosecution, as they are believed to be the primary perpetrators in the murder case.
Responding to the application presented by the prosecuting counsel, Justice Wodu directed the registrar to promptly communicate with the Area Commander of Suleja, instructing him to arrest the fleeing suspects and arrange for their appearance in court on the upcoming adjourned date.
In a parallel development, the Niger State court granted bail to twelve individuals who were already undergoing trial. The bail amount was set at N1 million, with each individual required to provide a surety who must be a civil servant of grade level 12. Additionally, the surety is mandated to deposit both their first appointment letter and the letter of their last promotion with the court registrar.
IMAGE: Punch
