A Federal High Court in Abuja Friday denied bail to a lecturer at the Kogi State University, Dr Nazeef Yunus, and two others - Alhaji Salami Abdullahi (a businessman) and Umar Musa, accused of being members of the deadly Boko Haram sect.
Ruling on their bail applications yesterday, Justice Gabriel Kolawole held that the current activities of members of the Boko Haram sect in the Northeastern part of the country will not allow the court to exercise its discretion in their favour.
Referring to the growing spate of mindless killings of innocent citizens by the sect’s members, Justice Kolawole held that the court cannot pretend that all is well with the country.
The judge agreed that the decision to either grant or deny bail was at the discretion of the court, but noted that such discretion must be exercised judiciously and judicially.
The judge reasoned that granting bail and then imposing stringent conditions, which the accused cannot fulfill, was like giving a gift with the right hand and collecting it back with the left hand.
“It is the severity of the crime that matters, and one is hesitant to grant bail. This may not be a period for the court to embark on fanciful and sterile judicial analysis so that the court cannot send out wrong signals,” the judge said.
Justice Kolawole held that the duty of the court, in view of the peculiar circumstance the country finds itself, is to assist the state to bring the security situation under control.
He added that issues relating to national security cannot be regarded as extraneous issues.
On Abdullahi’s claim of being indisposed, the judge held that his health challenge was not beyond what could be handled by a clinic provided he has regular access to medical attention.
The judge after refusing the three’s bail applications, elected to accord the case accelerated hearing. He adjourned to March 18 for the commencement of trial.
Dr Nazeef (44 years) is said to be a lecturer in the Department for Islamic Studies of the Kogi State University.
He is accused by the State Security Service (SSS) of providing intellectual and spiritual support to the sect. (0)
Boko Haram: Court denies Kogi lecturer"s bail
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