Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a federal high court in Abuja has fixed February 3 for the arraignment of a University of Kogi State lecturer, Muhammed Nazeef Yusuf, who is a suspected member of the Boko Haram sect operating in Kogi State.
The lecturer is believed to be the coordinator of the sect in the state.
Other suspects to be arraigned alongside the lecturer are Umar Musa and Salami Abdullahi, both accused of being key members of the sect.
Justice Kolawole had earlier adjourned the case for ruling on an application by defence counsels, Hassan Liman (SAN) and James Ocholi (SAN) to vacate the leave to remand the suspects by the SSS last year and to dismiss another application to extend the remand order.
During yesterday’s hearing, the judge called on the counsels to enter appearance for arraignment of the suspects as the charges filed by the office of the Attorney General of the Federation has been assigned to his court.
But SSS counsel Clifford Osagie drew the court’s attention to the fact that the department was not served hearing notice for the arraignment of the suspects.
He therefore prayed for an adjournment to enable the department to obtain and serve the suspects with the charges and hearing notice at least seven days before the date of arraignment as provided by the rules of the court.
Counsel to the third accused Abdul Muhammed urged the court to strike out the name of Osagie from the case because he has admitted to not having the mandate of the AGF to prosecute the suspects.
“This is a case of busy body which is unacceptable in our noble profession. My client has not been served but it is a protest only us can make,” he said.
The court ordered that the processes be served within 72 hours and adjourned the case To February 3.
He also remanded the suspects to Kuje prisons.
Source: Leadership