Court remands 189 Shi’ite members in prison, 4 minors granted bail

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A Kaduna Magistrate Court 1, Ibrahim Taiwo Road on wednesday remanded 189 members of Shi’ite Is­lamic Movement of Nigeria arrested during the sect’s clashed with the army in Zaria.‬

‪The court however granted bail to four Shi’ite minors with the sum of one hundred thousand naira each and two reliable sureties who will deposit valid means of identification.‬

‪The prosecutor, Bayero Dari told the court that Shi’ite members should be remanded in prison custody pending the report of arms and ammunitions recovered from the suspects adding that, the weapons have being sent to Lagos for expert analysis and test which almost completed.‬

‪Dari maintained that, the delay of experts report was due to large weapons recovered from the suspects which would be used as evidence when the trial begins.‬

‪According to the prosecutor, “The large arms and ammunitions recovered from the suspects caused the delay of expert report which will be used as evidence against them during trial. Our investigations almost completed. Police has already granted administrative bail to women and young offenders. Police handed them over to a credible sureties who will at anytime provide them in court. We are for justice and we will not object granting bail to young offenders”.‬

‪On his part, the Shi’ites lead defence counsel, Useni Ibrahim who applied for bail of young offenders said they will meet the bail conditions and urged the court to begin trial of the suspects.‬

‪In his ruling, Chief Magistrate, Auwal Musa Aliyu granted the bail to the minors saying all other suspects should be remanded in prison custody till 29th March, 2016 for further mention.‬

‪Aliyu maintained that, “The young offenders are hereby granted bail with the sum of 100,000 naira each. They must provide two sureties each and one must be blood relations. Each surety must deposit two size passports and one of the following; staff identity card, driver’s license, international identity card or voters card. The surety must give his or her genuine house address and GSM number”.‬

‪Those granted bail were, Ibrahim Suleiman, Aliyu Yusuf, Mahadi Munkaila and Aliyu Ibrahim, all of whom are below 18 years of age.‬

‪It will be recalled that, the arrest of some Shi’ite members followed the sect clashed with the army over alleged assassination attempt on Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, which the Is­lamic movement denied.‬