Metro

Alleged Blasphemy: Shariah Court Orders Arrest Of Embattled Bauchi Imam

Published

2 years ago

May 31, 2023

The Upper Shariah Court of Appeal No 1 sitting in Bauchi on Wednesday issued a warrant of arrest against the embattled Imam of Dutsen-Tanshi Jumma’at Mosque in Bauchi, Idris Abdul’aziz, over his failure to appear before the court.

The embattled cleric was initially arraigned before the Bauchi Magistrate Court 1 by the state Commissioner of Police for alleged incitement to public disturbance of peace and blasphemy.

Upon his arraignment, he was remanded at the Bauchi correctional centre before he was eventually granted bail.

The police had arraigned him before the court following a petition written against him, alleging that during one of his Tafsir sessions during this year’s holy month of Ramadan he made blasphemous comments against Prophet Mohammed and some notable Sufi clerics.

However, the case was transferred to the Upper Shariah Court of Appeal 1 Bauchi for trial.

When the case was called during the court’s sitting on Wednesday, the cleric was absent in court, with the prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Bn Idris, saying that the defendant’s absence was deliberate.

The defence counsel, however, Barrister Sadiq Abubakar Ilelah, however, informed the court that the cleric was not in court due to his sickness and pleaded for an adjournment to enable Idris to come to court.

In a bench ruling, the presiding judge, Hussaini Turaki, held that Idris’ failure to come to court despite being issued with a summon to that effect amounts to contempt of court.

He subsequently issued a bench warrant for the cleric’s arrest with a view to forcing him to appear before court at the next adjourned date.

Turaki then adjourned the case to Monday, June 5, 2023.

Speaking with journalists after the adjournment of the case, counsel to Idris, Barrister Ilellah attributed his absence in court to an undisclosed ailment, saying that, “The Imam was sick. That is why he could not attend the court sitting.”

Ilelah informed the defence had filed a motion, seeking an adjournment to enable the cleric to appear on the next adjourned date.

According to him, “the judge refused our plea that our client be given another opportunity to appear before the court, arguing that he disrespected the summons of the court.”

The prosecuting counsel, Idris explained to journalists that the case was transferred from Magistrate Court 1 to the Upper Shariah Court of Appeal in order to start afresh and lamented that the cleric was not in court for the commencement of trial.

“Unfortunately, the defendant could not come to court, but they have filed a notice of preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

“However, we argue that he is supposed to appear before the court before they move their motion.

“We applied for a bench warrant to be issued against him since he has refused to come to court, and the court ruled in that favour,” the prosecutor said.

Metro

JUST IN: Appeal Court Dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s Rights Violation Case Against DSS DG, AGF

Published

2 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Editor

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Friday struck out an appeal filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and convicted terrorism offender, challenging alleged violations of his fundamental rights while in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The court held that the appeal was without merit and had become academic following Kanu’s November 20 conviction for terrorism by a Federal High Court.

A three-member panel of the appellate court ruled that Kanu’s claims regarding breaches of his rights to human dignity, access to quality health care, and freedom of religion were no longer actionable after his life imprisonment sentence and subsequent remand in prison custody.

In the lead judgment, Justice Boloukuromo Moses Ugo noted that the matter had become academic following confirmation by Kanu’s lawyer, Maxwell Opara, at the start of proceedings that his client was being held at Sokoto Prison. Justice Ugo stated that the court could no longer grant Kanu’s request to be transferred to Kuje Prison, which he had sought as part of the appeal.

The judge further observed that since Kanu had previously indicated a preference for prison custody, the court could no longer grant his prayers in light of his conviction and current imprisonment at the facility he had desired.

The appeal challenged the July 3 ruling of Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, now retired, which had dismissed Kanu’s fundamental rights enforcement suit on the grounds that he failed to substantiate his claims.

The respondents in the appeal were the Director-General of the DSS, the Department of State Services, and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The court’s judgment effectively ends the legal challenge to Kanu’s detention conditions, following his life sentence for terrorism offences.

Recall that on November 20, 2025, a Federal High Court in Abuja delivered a series of rulings convicting Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on several terrorism-related charges.

Justice James Omotosho, presiding over the matter, first found Kanu guilty on two counts linked to engaging in acts of terrorism. The court held that his repeated declarations of sit-at-home orders, alongside threats of violence and killings issued through various broadcasts, amounted to terrorism under the relevant laws.

As the judgment progressed, the court also ruled on three additional counts, convicting Kanu of belonging to a proscribed organisation and of inciting his followers to violence.

Justice Omotosho stated that the prosecution presented evidence showing that Kanu remained a member of IPOB and its affiliate, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), despite their proscription.

The court further held that broadcasts attributed to Kanu were shown to have encouraged attacks that led to the deaths of security personnel and the destruction of public facilities, including police stations.

Metro

Oyo: Properties Worth Millions Of Naira Destroyed As Fire Ravages Residential Buildings

Published

3 hours ago

November 28, 2025

Editor

Properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed as a result of fire that ravaged two residential buildings in Oyo State.

It was gathered on Friday that the incidents occurred in Ibadan, the state capital and Kishi town.

The first incident occurred at 17 Prestige Estate, Joop Bad hour Crescent, Onírẹlẹ in Ibadan.

The living room of the four-bedroom duplex residential building was engulfed by fire in the incident which occurred Wednesday night.

Properties worth millions of naira were affected although no life was lost in the incident.

The second fire incident occurred at 1, Alhaji Rosco Street, Ajangba Area in Kishi town on Wednesday night.

It was learnt that the generator room of the residential building was seriously affected.

Properties worth millions of were said to be affected.

Chairman of Oyo State Fire Service, Hon Maroof Akinwande confirmed the two incidents on Friday.

Akinwande noted that no life was lost in the two incidents.

He said, “On getting there, it was the living room of a four-bedroom duplex residential building engulfed by fire. Our officers promptly launched a coordinated attack on the blaze and restricted the fire from spreading to other parts of the building.

“No casualty was recorded, the properties worth millions of naira were saved by the officers of the agency, and the cause of the fire incident is still under investigation”.

He also confirmed the second fire incident.

He said, “Upon arrival, it was the generator room of a four-bedroom flat engulfed EAby fire.

“The firemen swiftly swung into action and curtailed the fire from spreading to the main building.

“The fire was completely extinguished within a twinkle of an eye.”

Metro

JUST IN: One Dead As Ngige Escapes Assassination

Published

20 hours ago

November 27, 2025

Editor

Gunmen who dressed in police and army camouflage on Thursday attacked the convoy of the former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige, leaving one dead.

A lady who was caught videoing the gunmen reportedly came out of her hairdressing salon.

She was shot and died on the spot after she was spotted capturing the incident with her phone yesterday.

Ngige, who last served as the Labour Minister, reportedly escaped death following an attack on his convoy as he was not in the vehicle at the time of the incident.

It was learnt that the gunmen ran into the former governor’s convoy along Nkpor–Nnobi Road in Idemili North Local Government Area of the State and opened fire, prompting return fire from security operatives in the convoy.

According to a source, a police officer and a civilian who owned a shop were also injured during the gunmen’s attack.

A statement issued by Ngige’s media aide, Fred Chukwuelobe, confirmed that the former governor was not in the convoy when the assailants struck.

The statement noted that the attackers, reportedly dressed in police and army uniforms, opened fire on the pilot vehicle, injuring the lead escort.

The statement stressed that the policeman in the pilot car sustained gunshot wounds, while the attackers made away with his gun and uniform.

The pilot vehicle, it was gathered, was riddled with bullets during the assault.

Ngige, who spoke by phone through Chukwuelobe, said: “I just got off the phone with His Excellency, and he confirmed the development, promising to do all he can to ensure that those injured receive adequate treatment.”

He also commiserated with the family of the unfortunate lady who was killed while videoing the scene,” Chukwuelobe said.

“A shop owner who ran out to see what was happening was also shot. He reportedly lost a significant amount of blood and is scheduled for surgery to remove bullets, but doctors expect him to make a full recovery.

The injured escort leader has also undergone surgery and is responding well,” he added.

Ngige’s side dismissed insinuations that a police officer was killed in the attack.

Contacted, the State Command confirmed the attack on the former governor Ngige’s convoy, clarifying that the police had recovered the vehicle, which was riddled with bullets by the gunmen.