Controversy has trailed the release on bail of the notorious abductors of the renowned Qur’an reciter, Malam Ahmed Suleiman who was freed from his captives last year.
Malam Ahmed Suleiman was kidnapped along Sheme-Kankara road in Katsina State in March last year and was rescued by security operatives who apprehended his abductors and prosecuted them at the Katsina State High court.
A member of the Nigerian Bar Association, Katsina State chapter, Yusuf Usman Dauran, who was among those arrested over his alleged involvement in the illegal bail of the two self-confessed kidnappers, gave a graphic picture of what actually transpired.
Dauran, who served as legal client for the kidnappers filed an application for bail on behalf of the duo before Katsina State High Court ‘9’, but to his surprise, the kidnappers were released on bail even as the court is yet to hold a sitting to hear his argument on the matter.
While briefing newsmen in Katsina, the Assistant Secretary of the state chapter of NBA, Ibrahim Isa Babangida alleged that more confusing to them was how the state Chief Judge, Justice Musa Danladi Abubakar signed the bail documents for the release of the kidnappers without reading the bail ruling delivered by the judge of High Court ‘7’ presiding over the matter.
The NBA also alleged that when when it was discovered that the released kidnappers has jumped bail, the DSS Katsina State command arrested their member for a crime he did not commit.
The association frowned at the continued detention of their member for the past two months without being properly charged to court.
When contacted, the Chief Registrar of the State High Court, Kabir Shuaibu noted that the Chief Judge was misled into signing the bail documents.
He explained that the State High Court ‘7’ was yet to sit on the matter to decide on the bail application before it, but regretted that the bail conditions were forged by some members of staff within the ranks of the court, and the forged documents submitted to the Chief Judge.
Kabir Shuaibu said the Chief Judge signed the bail documents which included details of a court ruling, names and photgraphs of sureties and a note from the District Head of Kankara.
He however noted that the Chief Judge has set up a committee to investigate the forgery that led to the release of the two kidnappers on bail, as they committee has submitted it’s report which indicted some members of staff of the court.
The DSS has raised concerns over the inability of the court and the counsel to the accused to produce the kidnappers or their sureties as both parties are still at large.
Our reporter learnt that the release of the notorious kidnappers has caused a stir in security circles as regards the whereabouts of the two kidnappers at a time when armed banditry and kidnapping are taking an unprecedented toll on lives, livelihoods and public safety in Katsina State.
From El Zaharadeen Umar
