Court orders arrest of Lebanese over alleged arson

A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Wednesday, issued a warrant of arrest for a Lebanese man, Maged Ali-Taan, for failure to appear before it.

Justice Muhammad Nasir-Yunusa issued the warrant following the refusal of the defendant to appear in court to enter his plea over a charge of alleged arson.

Ali-Taan,the Managing Director of Alibert Products Nigeria Limited alongside his employee, Mustapha Tiamiyu, was charged by the Inspector General of Police.

When the case came up for arraignment, the Prosecution Counsel, Mr Abdulsalam Saleh, told the court that the defense counsel who is standing as the surety to the defendants promised to provide them for arraignment.

“To our greatest dismay the defense counsel choose to disrupt this court upon the opportunity and grace given to him.

“He should tell us why the defendants are not in court as he promised to provide them at the last adjourned date on Nov.22.
“We will file an application for the counsel to forfeit the bond he entered to produce the defendants pursuant to section 179 of Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015,” Saleh said.

Responding, the defense counsel, Mr Yahaya Isa-Abdulrashid, informed the court that his superior has sent a letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court seeking for the transfer of the case to Abuja.

“My Lord we sincerely apologise, for not providing the defendants in court.”

Justice Nasir-Yunusa expressed anger at the development, noting that the case is a criminal matter.

“I don’t see how it can be transferred. I am disappointed the defense counsel failed to provide his clients as he promised today for arraignment.”

He adjourned the matter until Jan.17, 2024 for arraignment.

The defendants are charged on three counts bordering on conspiracy, arson and attempt to tamper with electric transformer.

The defendants, on December 20, 2021, were alleged to have conspired willfully and maliciously to set fire on a building at No. 5c Murtala Muhammed Way, Kano, which the Lebanese occupied as a tenant and used as show room.

“In the process Ali-Taan made a fraudulent insurance claim on the said building.

“The defendants also allegedly attempted to temper with electric cables and transformer used for supplying electricity to the said building.”

According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened the provisions of sections 3(6),1(4)(a) and 1(19)(a) of the Miscellaneous offences Act.