More facts have emerged on the circumstances that led to the arrest and arraignment of the former Caretaker Chairman of Jibiya Local Government Area of Katsina State, Haruna Musa.
A Magistrate Court in the state presided over by Amina Ibrahim, has ordered that Musa be remanded at a Katsina Correctional Centre.
He is facing a five count charge brought against him by the police.
They are in connection with the December 11, 2020 abduction of 344 students of the Government Science Secondary School, Kankara.
The charges are, criminal breach of trust; inciting disturbance; aiding and abetting of armed robbery; kidnapping and terrorism.
Musa was arrested on February 3, 2021, based on credible intelligence on his alleged links with bandits over the abduction.
The Police in a report alleged that‘’ On the 30th January 2021, at about 0800 hours, as a member of the Katsina State Fulani/farmers reconciliation committee, entrusted with the mandate of negotiating between bandits/kidnappers/robbers in Katsina State, you breached the trust, by deliberately using your Samsung GSM Phone with MTN Number:08032981919 to call one of the well-known bandits’ commander, residing in the Zamfara Forest, who masterminded the kidnapping of the students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, sometime in December 2020, instigating him with unverified information regarding the release of said students”.
“As a result of this, through information to the commander of the bandits by you, he informed his gang who are now rising against the government and people of Katsina State, threatening to continue terrorizing them for the money to be released to them.
All these are contrary to sections 298, 78 and 47 of the penal code law of Katsina State,2019″ the report read.
The two police prosecutors on the case, Assistant Superintendent of Police Isa Litti and E.M Garuba, however, told the Chief Magistrates Court where Musa was arraigned that investigation is still in progress.
The prosecutors requested a new date for the case to be mentioned.
The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Aminat Ibrahim granted the request and adjourned the case till March 25, 2021, for mention.
She directed that Musa be remanded at a correctional centre.
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She also directed that the Certified True Copy of the report be released to Musa’s counsel, Barrister Ahmed Danbaba, as requested by him.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
