Justice Gabriel Kolawole of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has refused to release on bail a lecturer of Kogi State University, Dr Nazeef Yunus, and two others who are currently standing trial for allegedly being members of the Boko Haram sect in Kogi State.
The federal government had last month arraigned Yunus, an assistant lecturer in Arabic and Islamic Studies at the Kogi State University, Ayingba; Umar Musa and Salami Abdullahi over their alleged involvement in terrorism activities.
They are alleged to be leaders of the Boko Haram sect in Kogi State. After the charges were read to them, they pleaded not guilty to the eight-count terrorism charge filed against them.
The accused persons had, through their various counsel, argued their bail application before the court. In his ruling on the motion for bail, Justice Kolawole refused the bail application of the accused persons.
The court held that it is the duty of the court to assist the state law enforcement agents in their coercive action against terrorism, being mindful of the fundamental human rights of the accused.
The court further held that no reasonable court or tribunal will do otherwise, especially against the backdrop on insurgency in the north-east, particularly in the last four to six weeks.
“I hereby refuse the defendants application for bail and instead order accelerated trial of the accused persons. Accused persons shall be remanded in Kuje Prison pending the commencement of their trial on the adjourned dates,” the judge held.
The case has been adjourned to March 18,19, April 3 and May 6,7, 14 & 15. In the eight-count charge slammed on the accused persons, they were alleged to have engaged in acts of terrorism and illegal possession of weapons, including two AK47 rifles, two magazines and 60 rounds of ammunition.
They were also accused of recruiting and organising members of the Kogi State Boko Haram cell, in addition to funding the outlawed terrorist organisation.
Source: Leadership
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