The majority leader of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, who is facing murder charges, has been granted bail by a federal high court in Kano.
Justice Yunusa Mohammed, who was once suspended by the National Judicial Council, NJC for corruption, granted the bail to the lawmaker on Monday.
Mr Doguwa was first arraigned on March 1 before a magistrate’s court in Kano for culpable homicide, conspiracy, mischief, unlawful possession of firearms and inciting disturbance.
Others charged in absentia are Nazifi Asnanic, Nafiu Musa, Hamisu Amadu and Abdulhadi Alaramma.
“That Alhassan Doguwa was charged with burning a building that resulted to the burning of Alasan Mohammed and Aminu Malam Amadu to death, while Bashir Yani, Labaran Sule and one Amadu injured by the fire,” one of the charges read in part.
The offences are contrary to Section 97, 114, 247, 336 and 221 of Penal Code.
In an ex parte application filed pursuant to the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure Rules by the office of Nureini Jimoh SAN, the judge granted bail to Mr Doguwa in the sum of N500m each to two sureties who shall be permanent secretaries in the service of the state or first class traditional leaders in the like sum.
The lawmaker was also asked to drop his international passport with the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court and not to visit his constituency during the gubernatorial elections.
Before granting the bail application, the attention of the judge was drawn by some lawyers present in court who identified themselves as amicus curiae (friends of the court) to the fact the applicant (Alassan Ado Doguwa) is being charged with non-bailable capital offenses of culpable homicide, among other grave offenses and that granting him bail is likely to cause a civil unrest.
The judge however ignored the amicus curiae’s caution and granted the bail without putting other parties on notice.
Who is Justice Yunusa Mohammed?
Justice Yunusa Muhammad was previously suspended by the National Judicial Council on allegations of corruption and unethical practices in a case involving RIckey Tarfa SAN where the sum of N1.5m was transferred to the judge’s bank account for inexplicable reasons.
Following a petition dated 21st December, 2015 a civil society organization called Civil Society Network Against Corruption, CSNAC, referenced NJC/F.3.FHC49/1/421, Mr Yunusa was summoned to appear in the Supreme Court to answer to the charges against him along with all his documents in defense of the charge.
On July 15, 2016, he was recommended for summary retirement by the NJC, based on the recommendation of the investigation committee.
He was found guilty of all the allegations raised in the CSNAC petition against him.
In a surprising twist, he was reinstated back on the bench five years later precisely in January 2021.
The judge is notorious for giving controversial judgments and rulings.
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