NNPP Counsel petitions NJC over Gombe Magistrate Court Judge
By Chima Azubuike
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), through its lawyer Barr. Rabiu Ayuba, has petitioned the chairman National Judicial Council, Olukayode Ariwoola, over the case of one Ahmed Abubakar.
Ayuba, had in the petition made available to our Correspondent alleged that the magistrate court judge, His worship Aliyu Abubakar Chief Magistrate Court 11, Tumfure deliberately failed to grant administrative bail to Abubakar.
Our Correspondent reports that Abubakar, who was a guest at a radio show was arrested and detained at Criminal Investigation Department of the Gombe Police Command for expressing his dismay about state of affairs and the award of contracts for the building of the State Government House Fence, which the State Government frowned at as being untrue.
The petition which also copied Inspector General of Police Baba Alkali; Director-General Department of State Services Yusuf Bichi; Chairman Economic and Financial Crimes Commission Abdulrasheed Bawa and National Human Right Commission Secretary Anthony Ojukwu, blamed the Judge for abdication of duty and lowering the confidence of the public.
The petition partly read, “Prior to his arrest our Client had hitherto granted a radio interview at a local radio Station in Gombe State known as Jewel FM, wherein he freely expressed his views about the state of affairs and the award of contracts for the building of the Gombe State Government House Fence, which view the state Governor found offensive and ordered for his arrest.
“While under detention our client was denied administrative bail howbeit the alleged offence for which he was being investigated upon is ordinarily bailable. Our client was subsequently arraigned on the 20th January 2023 before the Chief Magistrate Court 11, Tumfure Gombe State presided by Aliyu Abubakar (Chief Magistrate Court 11, Tumfure) on whom this petition is now made.”
While urging that His Worship Abubakar, should be called to order, Ayuba noted that Abubakar was notorious for aiding the state to tackle opposing views, adding that, “Notwithstanding that the offence charged is ordinarily bailable as provided by Section 182 of the Gombe State Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2020, yet the court adjourn ruling on the Bail Application to the 27th January 2023.”
“On the 27th January 2023 when the matter was to come up for ruling the presiding magistrate and all members of staff of the registry of the court were absent and the Defendant our client was not even produced from the Gombe Medium Security Correctional Centre where he was remanded since on the 20th January 2023 which is a clear indication of deliberate injustice to ensure his continual remand at the correctional Centre.
“That the Defendant Counsel and his team together with his relations and friends who came to the Court that day including members of the press, waited from 9am to 5pm but in vain as neither the Hon Magistrate nor any staff of the Court registry were available to render any explanation.
“My lord, this action of the presiding Magistrate and staff of the court Registry in absenting the Court and the non-production of the Defendant on a day when the case is to come up for ruling on a bail application points to only one conclusion, a deliberate connivance to ensure continual incarceration of our client so as to please the Nominal Complainant, Governor Inuwa Yahaya since it has already been stated by the Prosecuting Counsel while making arguments opposing the Bail Application that the bail be refused as the case has political inclination.
“More so my lord, Aliyu Abubakar (Chief Magistrate Court 11, Tumfure) is now notorious and known as the judge who handle cases bordering on free speech in which citizens who exercise their rights to freedom of expression are subsequently being arraigned and detained for months and even when their application is later granted, the conditions for bail are usually so stringent such that it is practically impossible to be met. It is also not surprising that our client herein may suffer same faith unless Aliyu Abubakar (Chief Magistrate Court 11, Tumfure) is called to Order,” the petition partly added.
