Suspected killers of Muhammad Abdulsafur, the late village head of Lambata, in Gurara Local Council of Niger State, yesterday, assaulted journalists covering the case at Suleja High Court.
The 15 suspects, who were granted bail by Justice Aisha Bawa Wodu, vowed to deal with journalists that continue to report their appearance in court.
The suspects, at the resumed hearing of the case, pounced on cameramen from the Nigeria Television Authority, Niger State Television, and some journalists who had been recording the event at the premises. It took the intervention of the court registrar and their counsel to bring the situation under control.
“We are ready to deal with any journalist that dares to write anything about us,” the suspects boasted. Also, there was confusion during the trial when one of the suspects remanded at Minna Correctional Centre was absent, on the ground that another court in Minna had granted him bail.
The prosecutor in the Office of the Attorney General of Niger State, Halidu Umar, told the court he received information that the suspect was granted bail because the name on the charge sheet was not his.
According to him, a lawyer had, on that ground, approached the court for his bail and it was granted. Not pleased with the development, Justice Wodu directed the registrar of the said court to reach out to the suspect’s surety to produce him in Suleja High Court on the next adjourned date. She, thereafter, adjourned the case till tomorrow (March 14) for hearing.
