A People Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial aspirant in Borno State, Grema Terab, has decried the continued detention of his wife, Sa’adatu Muhammad, and 20 family members in prison custody for about a month.
Mr Terab told DAILY NIGERIAN via telephone that Mrs Muhammad, and family members of Mr Terab were taken away by Police in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on April 15.
Narrating his wife’s ordeal, Mr Terab, a former head of Borno State Emergency Management Agency, said his family were arrested following an attack by some miscreants that left one person dead.
According to him, the miscreants stormed his residence during a political rally and attacked those in attendance.
“The attackers, suspected to be political thugs, arrived about an hour after I finished a meeting with my political associates.
“The police then arrived at my residence after the violence and took away my wife and 20 other family members.
“My wife was two months pregnant when she was taken away by the police but had a miscarriage two days after being locked in a cell with harsh conditions,” he alleged.
He continued: “I am at a loss as to why the arrest came nearly two hours after a successful completion of a meeting with my political supporters in which the police themselves were present to provide security.
“Surprisingly, the same police that provided security during the meeting later came back to arrest my wife after we had completed and dispersed from the venue of the meeting.
“I was the one that alerted the police about the disturbance but yet they chose to arrest my wife who has now lost her pregnancy.
“They want to even make it seem as if they advised me against the meeting. This is false and very painful,” he added.
Mr Terab added that after about 18 days of “illegal detention” Mrs Muhammad and 20 other members of his family, the Borno State Ministry of Justice finally charged them to the state high court on Thursday, May 3.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and the bail hearing was adjourned by the presiding Judge, Abdullahi Sanya Wednesday, May 9, he told DAILY NIGERIAN.
He also said the Counsel to the state government, Abdullahi Izge opposed the bail application, adding that the Presiding Judge adjourned the case to Friday, May 11, for ruling on the bail application.
He, however, revealed that the ruling has been further delayed to Monday, May 14, due to the absence of the presiding Judge.
The distraught politician also alleged that his wife was rejected by the Chief Medical Director of Umoru Shehu Hospital, Maiduguri, following the order of the judge that she should have medical attention at the health facility.
He added that she was “reluctantly re-admitted” after several arguments with his lawyers and the intervention of the court officials.
“Meanwhile my wife whom the Judge had earlier ordered that she should be kept at the Umoru Shehu Hospital Maiduguri pending the bail ruling was yesterday rejected by the CMD “based on orders by Borno State Government.
“Until after several arguments with our lawyers and the intervention of the court officials before she was reluctantly readmitted.
“We understand that this is a desperate tactic deployed by the Governor to cow us into giving up our struggle, unfortunately for them, this has rather strengthened our resolve.
“We rightly understand that this is beyond us as an individual, rather it shows how fast our systems are deteriorating.
“We are again grateful for everyone who has chosen to identify with this cause and call for calm while we wait for the ruling,” he said
