An Area Court in Pantami area of Gombe metropolis has denied bail to two critics of the Gombe State governor, Inuwa Yahaya, who were detained on Thursday for allegedly “conniving to insult the governor”.
Atiku Boza-Boza and Adamu Babale are social critics and members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, they were sent to prison after they were arraigned on allegations of “conspiracy and intentional insult” last week at Pantami Area Court, after a brief docking at which they had no legal representation.
The police at Pantami Division of the metropolis first arrested and detained Mr Boza-Boza overnight on Wednesday.
An associate of Mr Boza-Boza, Adamu Babale, who went to the police station to secure the bail of his fellow party man was also detained.
The two were then taken before the Area Court in Pantami in handcuffs on Thursday on charges of conspiring to abuse Mr Yahaya.
The police accused the two PDP stalwarts of calling the governor “leader of promise breakers” according to court documents.
The alleged offence, according to the charge sheet, is contrary to Section 96 & 155 of the Penal Code Law.
At the court on Tuesday, the judge announced the state government’s communication to the court indicating interest in the matter. The state’s ministry of justice said it will take over the prosecution of the case from the police.
The new twist contradicts claims by a spokesperson of the Gombe governor, Abdullahi Misilli, who on Sunday denied Governor Yahaya’s involvement in the case.
“There is a security implication to the case. We don’t want it to be mishandled,” Mr Umar said, in justifying the government’s interest in the prosecution.
This is not the first time critics of state governors would be receiving the short end of the law.
Culled from Premium Times
