‘Murder’: Court adjourns Doguwa’s suit to allow Kano government study police report

A federal high court in Abuja has adjourned the suit involving Alhassan Doguwa, a federal lawmaker, to allow the Kano government to study the outcome of a police report on the allegation of murder.

Donatus Okorowo, the presiding judge, on Friday, adjourned further hearing in the suit to September 25.

BACKGROUND

On February 28, Doguwa was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, while boarding a flight to Abuja.

The police had said they received a report that he led thugs to set ablaze the secretariat of the New Nigeria Political Party (NNPP) in Kano. Two persons were said to have died in the incident.

While the legislator denied any wrongdoing, he was arraigned in March at a magistrate court in Kano and was later remanded in prison.

Doguwa was granted bail in the sum of N500 million by a federal high court after a few days in prison.

However, the charges were withdrawn after the prosecution said it could not “find sufficient evidence to link Doguwa with the said offences”.

The lawmaker subsequently filed a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/831/23 seeking an order to enforce his fundamental rights.

The attorney-general of the federation (AGF), the inspector-general of police, the governor of Kano and the state’s commissioner for justice were joined as 1st to 4th defendants, respectively.

In a motion ex-parte earlier moved by Afam Osigwe, Doguwa’s counsel, on June 20, the lawmaker sought the protection of the court against an alleged plan by the state government to rearrest and detain the defendant.

The judge had ordered parties in the suit to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.

He had adjourned the matter until July 14 for a hearing.

THE COURT PROCEEDINGS ON FRIDAY

At the resumption of the hearing on Friday, M. K. Umar, the Kano attorney-general, asked the court to grant him some time to study exhibit 10 (police report) and file a better response to Doguwa’s objection.

Umar said that the state government was not looking for the lawmaker due to the violence that trailed the February 25 presidential election or firearm issue.

He added that Doguwa was being sought in Kano to answer the allegations of homicide levelled against him by the state government.

Asked by the judge if he had read exhibit 10, Umar admitted that he was yet to go through the report.

The judge said exhibit 10 is the second report of the police investigation, which indicates that Doguwa was not responsible for the killings that took place during the electioneering period.

The state counsel asked for an adjournment to allow him to study the exhibit and for further instruction from the government.