Minna Chief Magistrate revokes bail of two defendants over inconsistencies in charge

The presiding chief magistrate of Minna Court 1, Hajiya Fati Umar Hassan, has revoked the bail earlier granted to two defendants, Hadiza Mohammad and Usman Alhaji Umaru, over alleged inconsistencies in the Police First Information Report (FIR).

DAILY POST learnt that the two defendants were found with a Tecno mobile phone that was forcefully taken from one Abubakar Mohammadu, who was sent to pay ransom to some kidnappers who stormed a village in Wushishi, Wushishi Local Government Area of the state and abducted some persons, including his brother and his two wives.

After collecting the ransom of N2 million, the kidnappers reportedly murdered their victims, including Mohammadu, who delivered the ransom.

The defendants were earlier arraigned by the police on three counts of criminal conspiracy, belonging to a gang of thieves and being in possession of the incriminating mobile phone.

The police, however, failed to add culpable homicide to the charges in the FIR, and upon discovery, the court decided to revoke the bail earlier granted.

Against this background, the magistrate ordered that an independent body of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) should carry out a discreet investigation into the case and rearraign the defendants.

According to her: “I am not convinced with the content of the First Information Report because it contains so many inconsistencies. Please take them back for a discreet investigation.”