Nigeria: Land Trespass - Court Orders Arrest, Remand of Nasarawa Commissioner for Works in Prison

2 November 2022

A senior magistrates' court sitting at Uke, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, has issued a bench warrant against Engineer Idris Mohammed for failing to appear in court on Monday.

Mohammed, who is the current Commissioner for Works and Rural Development in the state, is standing trial for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy, trespass and mischief in a suit filed by Engr. Idris Aliyu-Bori and one other.

Mohammed and five others were accused of trespassing on the land of the complainants and caused mischief after intimidating the complainants.

Counsel for the complainant, Barrister N. E Emmanuel, applied that the bail earlier granted to the commissioner be revoked and that arrest warrant be issued against him. She added that a criminal summons be issued against his surety to show cause why he (the surety) should not forfeit the bail bond.

However, counsel for the defendants Barrister G. O Idu, opposed the application for the arrest.

The presiding magistrate, Aisha Abdullahi, in her ruling upheld the application of the complainant's counsel and ordered the immediate arrest of the commissioner, citing continued disobedience to the court as the reason for her decision. The magistrate added that Idris should be remanded at the correctional centre in Keffi.

Daily Trust reports that the case has been adjourned to November 19, 2022.

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