A Minna Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday ordered the remand of a 20-year-old man, Isyaku Yakubu in prison for allegedly assisting a suspect to evade arrest.
Yakubu is being tried on one-count charge of screening of an offender, contrary to Section 168 of the penal code.
The prosecutor, Insp Ahmed Ali, told the court that Sani Barde of Chanchaga in Niger reported the matter at the police station on June 2.
Ali said Barde, an elder in Chanchaga, had received a reliable information that a group of young boys led by one Mohammed Jibril were planning to disrupt the forthcoming eid-el fitr sallah celebrations.
He said the police then mounted a special operation for the arrest of Jibril, who, on sighting them, run
into the house of the defendant.
He told the court that rather than assist the police to apprehend the fleeing suspect, Isyaku Yakubu
allegedly blocked the entrance to his house and prevented security operatives from gaining access.
Ali added that the defendant’s action enabled the suspect to escape police arrest.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty of the charge while the prosecutor urged the court to remand the suspect and applied for adjournment.
He said the period of the adjournment was to enable the police to conclude investigation on the matter.
The Magistrate, Jibril Zabo, acceded to the prosecutor’s request and ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison and adjourned the matter until June 26. (NAN)