A Sokoto State Sharia Court on Friday issued a bench warrant for the
arrest of a Senior Councillor in the Sultanate Council of Sokoto and
Magajin Garin Sokoto, Alhaji Hassan Danbaba.
The News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Umar Sifawa, gave the order in a
ruling on a motion filed by the National Vice Chairman of All
Progressives Congress (APC), North-West, Inuwa Abdulkadir.
Mr.
Abdulkadir had dragged Mr. Danbaba, the grandson of the late Premier of
Northern Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello, to court for alleged defamation of
character.
He alleged that Mr. Danbaba had in a publication in
August, 2016, described his late father as a ” slave bought by one
Gwaggo, for two shillings”.
The complainant had told the court that Mr. Danbaba said that he (Abdulkadir) did not take adequate care of his late mother.
The
respondent had filed a notice of appeal on the ground that the court
had erred by issuing a summon on March 13 and March 22, giving him only
two days to appear before it for his defence.
The motion on notice
filed by Mr. Danbaba’s counsel, Yusuf Dankofa, also said the court
breached the appellant’s right to fair hearing and fair trial.
This,
he averred, was in violation of section 36 ( 6) ( B), of the
Constitution that states,” every person charged with a criminal offence
shall be entitled to be given adequate time and facility for the
preparation of the defence”.
Mr.
Danbaba had also filed a motion on notice praying for the stay of the
court’s proceedings, pending the determination of his appeal at the
State High Court.
The counsel to the complainant, John Shaka, on
Friday urged the court to strike out both the respondent’s motion on
notice and notice of appeal.
Mr. Shaka had also prayed the court
to order the Inspector-General of Police to arrest and produce the
respondent before the court.
The counsel to the respondent was, however, not in court on Friday.
In
his ruling, Mr. Sifawa refused to grant the prayers of the complainant
to strike out the respondent’s motion on notice and notice of appeal.
The
Judge said,” it is premature to do so as the accused should be given
another chance to present his case, if he wishes to do so”.
Mr.
Sifawa, however, granted, in part, the prayer seeking the issuance of an
order to the IGP for the arrest and production of Mr. Danbaba.
He
said,” This is to the effect that a bench warrant shall be issued
immediately for the arrest and production of accused before the court.
“But,
the order is to the CP of Sokoto State and not the IGP as applied for,
to arrest the accused wherever he is found in Nigeria, pending further
instructions by the court.”
The judge adjourned the case till April 6.
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