A Federal High Court in Kano has granted bail to the tune of N500 million to Alhassan Ado Doguwa, the majority leader of the House of Representatives, who was charged of alleged culpable homicide, illegal possession of gun, public disturbance, among others.
Alhassan Doguwa was remanded in correctional facility by a senior magistrate, Ibrahim Mansur.
But counsel to the accused, Nureini Jimoh applied for an exparte order before Justice Muhammad Nasir Yunusa to grant the accused bail based on alleged infringement of his fundamental human rights and absence of jurisdiction by the magistrate Court that had remanded the accused.
Jimoh contended that since the accused was charged with culpable homicide and illegal possession of firearms, the Magistrate Court lacked jurisdictional powers to remand the lawmaker.
Justice Muhammad Nasir Yunusa upon hearing the application, granted the bail with the condition that the suspect must provide two sureties, one of which shall be a first class traditional ruler while the other must be a permanent secretary at the federal or state civil service.
The Judge ordered that the suspect shall deposit his travel documents with the Court registry, which can be released upon request if needed for travel.
The documents must be resubmitted upon return from the journey.
The Court further ruled that the lawmaker shall desist from visiting his constituency during the forthcoming gubernatorial and state house of assembly elections.
The majority leader was arrested by the Kano Police following violence that led to deaths and arson in Tudun Wada local government at the February 25 presidential and national assembly election.
NSCDC TO SET UP ANTI BUNKERING UNIT
The Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps has revealed plans to set up a special operations unit in one of the major flashpoints for illegal oil bunkering in Rivers State.
The NSCDC disclosed this after the latest deadly explosion that claimed many lives at the site of a vandalized oil pipeline in Emohua Local Government Area.
Rumuekpe community is popular for illegal oil bunkering in Rivers State.
While it is considered to be a quick and easy route to wealth, deadly explosions like this are also common.
Many residents wonder why these activities have gone on for so long without any serious attempt by the government to stop it.
It’s a question for security agencies like the NSCDC that has the constitutional mandate to protect critical economic assets.
The corps says there are plans to launch a new strategy to dislodge oil thieves from their stronghold in this community.
This vandalized pipeline belongs to one of the international oil giants operating in Nigeria.
For the NSCDC the companies have not done enough to prevent incidents like this from occurring.