Controversy trails release of notorious Katsina kidnapper

Controversy has trailed the release of the two notorious abductors of
the renowned Qur’an reciter, Ahmed Suleiman, whose security agents aided
to secure his release from captivity. Mr Suleiman was kidnapped in March, last year, along Sheme-Kankara road in
Katsina State. Security operatives apprehended his abductors and
prosecuted them at the Katsina State High court.

A member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Katsina
State chapter, Yusuf 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.

 

Mr Dauran, who served as legal client for the
kidnappers, filed an application for bail on behalf of the duo before
the 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 journalists in Katsina, the Assistant
Secretary of the state chapter of the NBA, Ibrahim Babangida, alleged
that more confusing to them was how the state’s Chief Judge, Musa
Abubakar, signed the bail documents for the release of the kidnappers
without reading the bail ruling delivered by the judge of High Court
‘9’, who presided over the matter.

The NBA also alleged that when it was discovered that
the released kidnappers had jumped bail, the Department of Security
Service (DSS), Katsina State command, arrested their member for a crime
he did not commit.

 

The association frowned at the continued detention of
their member, who, for the past two months, has not been 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 ‘9’ 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 were submitted
to the Chief Judge.

Mr Shuaibu said the Chief Judge signed the bail
documents, which included details of a court ruling, names and
photographs of sureties and a note from the District Head of Kankara.

He, however, noted that the Chief Judge had set up a
committee to investigate the forgery that led to the release of the two
kidnappers on bail, and the committee has submitted its report, which
indicted some members of staff of the court.

 

The SSS has raised concerns over the inability of the
court and the counsel to the accused to produce the kidnappers or their
sureties.

The media learnt that the release of the notorious
kidnappers has caused a stir in the security architecture of the state,
at a time when armed banditry and kidnapping are taking an unprecedented
toll on lives, livelihoods and public safety in Katsina State.