Kaduna; Court remands six Islamic Centre’s teachers in Prison

Court

The Kaduna State Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded in prison, six teachers of the embattled Kaduna Islamic Centre, where 300 persons in chains were recently rescued by the police.

The six teachers of Ahmad Bin Hambalý Islamic Centre were arraigned before the Chief Magistrates’ Court 16, presided over by Musa Lawal Mohammed.

Those arraigned were Ismail Abubakar, Umar Abubakar, Abdul’azeez Adam, Abubakar Muktar, Abdullahi Auwal and Salisu Ibrahim.

Police prosecutor Hassan .M. Malan, who read out the First Information Report (FIR) to the court, said the six defendants were accused of criminal conspiracy, ýwrongful confinement, cruelty to persons and unnatural act. The prosecutor told the court that the police investigation was still ongoing.

However, counsel to the defendants, Sani Shehu Surajo, told the court that the defendants were only at the court for cognisance only because the court lacks jurisdiction to take their plea.

He also tried to convince the court to allow the defendants to remain in police custody since investigation into their case was ongoing, but the police prosecutor rejected that, saying the police facility was overstretched.

In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Musa Lawal Muhammed said the court lacked the jurisdiction to try the defendants because one of the offences they were accused of was a capital offence, which only the High Court had the jurisdiction to hear.

He, therefore, said because of that they (defendants) will be remanded in Kaduna Convict Prison.

He adjourned the case till October 29 for further mention.

Source;  The Nation Nigeria