Curfew: Court  grants bail to alleged violators

A  Kaduna Chief Magistrate Court has granted bail in the sum of N1 million each,  to  the two clerics and their followers  who allegedly violated the ongoing curfew, by conducting congregational prayers on Friday. The defendants who  are 10 in number,  were accused of criminal conspiracy and disobedience to public orders and they all  pleaded […]

A  Kaduna Chief Magistrate Court has granted bail in the sum of N1 million each,  to  the two clerics and their followers  who allegedly violated the ongoing curfew, by conducting congregational prayers on Friday.

The defendants who  are 10 in number,  were accused of criminal conspiracy and disobedience to public orders and they all  pleaded not guilty to the charges.

According to the prosecution counsel, Barrister Dari Bayero, the defendants’ alleged violation of the law has the potency of spreading the coronavirus in Kaduna State.

It will be recalled that Kaduna State Government said that it has arrested two clerics for conducting Friday congregational prayers in two communities of Kaduna North local government area, in violation of the curfew imposed to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The names of the alleged culprits were given as  Malam Aminu Umar Usman and Malam Umar Shangel, from Malali and Unguwan Kanawa respectively.

On Monday, March 30, 2020,  the two clerics and eight  of members of their congregations  were arraigned, with the Unguwan Kanawa accused arraigned  at Magistrate Court 1, while those of Malali were separately arraigned at  Court 16.

All defendants were granted bail but will have to produce sureties who must be senior government officials with proof of landed property in Kaduna State, failure of which they will be remanded at the Correctional Centre.

The two cases have  been adjourned to April 22  and April 29 respectively.