Murder: Court rules on Doguwa’s case May 23

The Federal High Court in Kano has adjourned till May 23 to rule on an application by the police challenging the bail granted by the court to the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, who was charged with “culpable homicide, criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearm, inciting disturbance and public disturbance.”

Justice Mohammad Yunusa adjourned for ruling after taking arguments from counsel for the police, A.D. Saleh, and Doguwa’s lawyer, Nurieni Jimoh (SAN).

The police had in March come after the federal lawmaker representing Doguwa/Tudun-Wada Federal Constituency of Kano over allegations that he had a hand in the killing of some members of the opposition New Nigeria People’s Party in Tudun-Wada constituency during the February 18 National Assembly election.

Doguwa was first taken before a magistrates’ court, which gave an order for his remand in the prison custody.

He later, through his counsel, filed a fundamental rights suit before Justice Mohammad Yunusa of the Federal High Court , challenging the remand order on the grounds that the magistrates’ court has no jurisdiction to try the charges pressed against him.

Ruling on his ex parte application on March 6, Justice Yunusa admitted Doguwa to bail in the sum of N500,000.

In his argument, the senior lawyer argued that the magistrates’ court that ordered the detention of his client in prison lacked the jurisdiction to either remand, detain or grant the release of Doguwa based on the kind of allegations brought against him. Punch