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National Assembly complex, Abuja
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Member representing Bauchi Federal Constituency in the House of Reps, Yakubu Shehu Abdullahi has instituted a criminal proceeding against one Faisal Hassan Akarami at a Chief Magistrate Court in Bauchi.
According to his summons as prepared by his Counsel, M. J. Jaldi of Mukhtar Abubakar &, Co Chambers, he brought the case of criminal defamation and criminal intimidation as contained in Sec 391 and 396 of the Penal Code law against the accused who is a leader of GRAFCA in Bauchi.
He stated that the accused person on the 16th of August spoke some words in Hausa language using Globe FM radio station in Bauchi in a political program ‘Ga fili ga Doki’ to make some imputations concerning him intending to harm his reputation as well as threatening the reputation of his property, an operating rice mill in Bauchi.
He claimed in the summons that he acquired the land where the rice mill is sited legally and has all the necessary documents of title in his favor saying that the accused intended to omit him from developing his property or doing anything lawful on his land.
When the case was mentioned on Tuesday at the Chief Magistrate Court 6, Counsel to the accused person, Sadiq Abubakar of Heritage Chambers raised a preliminary objection to the case with regards to the appropriate process of the case.
The presiding Chief Magistrate, Amina Garuba adjourned the case to enable the two Counsels exchange all the necessary court processes to allow the court to adjudicate without delay.
Speaking to Journalists after the adjournment, the Lead Counsel to the accused, Sadiq Abubakar stressed that based on the fact available, his client did not commit any criminal offense as he merely expressed his opinion over a public matter as guaranteed by the constitution of the country as amended.
He also said that they have objected to the claim because it is not properly brought before the court adding that they will pursue the case to its logical conclusion.
The legal practitioner said that what the court did was ensure that the two parties were given fair hearing the reason it adjourned the case for further mention of all the processes expressing confidence that at end, his client will come out victorious as the court will dismiss the case for lack of merit.
It will be recalled that, Grassroots Football Coaches Association (GRAFCA) had drew the attention of Bauchi State Government to what it described as encroachment into one of its football pitches in Bauchi by a rice production company a development it said has denied teeming youths in the area the opportunity of exhibiting their football talent.
