Broadcaster, seven others arraigned for criminal conspiracy

A broadcaster with the Zamfara State Radio and Television, Adamu Abdullahi Kanoma was among the eight persons arraigned before the Gusau Chief Magistrate Court 1 Gusau for inciting the public during the nationwide strike embarked upon by workers in the country.  According to Police FIR, the eight suspects were charged for criminal conspiracy, inciting public disturbance, mischief by fire and abatement, contrary to section 97,85,102,114,327 and 337 of the penal code.
After the police prosecution had presented his charges against the accused persons, they pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In his ruling on the matter, the Chief Magistrate, Mr. Umar Abdul-Nasir transferred the case to the Sharia court as according to him the Magistrate lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case based on section 7 of the State Sharia Code.

The trial judge however ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody until the 19th of January, 2012.

The state counsel has also taken over the prosecution of the case, under section 21 Sub 1 (b) of the Sharia Legal Code.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said the arrest and prosecution of the accused persons was political as most of the accused persons were members of the party.

Speaking in an interview, Hon. Sani Anka described the charges as framed up charges, saying "the strike was a national issue, so why politicising it in Zamfara."

Anka alleged that some of the suspected persons were arrested on the orders of the government, stressing that some of the people ordered to be arrested were not even in Zamfara when the strike action commenced on Monday but police went to their houses to arrest them.

When contacted, the state's Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Tambari Yabo explained that suspects were arrested while trying to cause mayhem during the strike action.

"No policeman would fold his arms and allow people to cause havoc in the society, immediately after the NLC officials conducted their rally and addresses, they ordered people to go back home but the hoodlums took to the streets causing havoc to the extent of attempting to burn down the Government House and the house of the deputy governor and some churches."






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