Barely four days after the gruesome murder of a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education (SSCOE), Sokoto, Deborah Samuel, who was set ablaze for alleged blaspheming of Prophet Mohammed (SAW), the police, on Monday, arraigned two suspects – Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunchi before a Magistrates’ Court in court.
When the charge was read to the suspects, who are also students of the SSCOE, Sokoto, they pleaded not guilty to the offence.
The information by the Police First Information Report stated that the two suspects were arraigned because of the mob action that led to the death and subsequent setting ablaze of Deborah.
After their ‘not guilty’ pleas, the prosecuting police officer, Inspector Khalil Musa, sought for an adjournment to enable them complete their investigation.
Following the request for adjournment, 34 defence lawyers, led by Prof Mansur Ibrahim, did not oppose the application.
The defence team , however, urged the court to grant bail to their clients, citing sections 157, 161(a,f) and 164 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Sokoto State as well as section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The presiding Magistrate later adjourned ruling on the bail application to a later date, saying that the date would be communicated to the parties in due course.
The magistrate later directed that the suspects should be remanded at the Sokoto Correctional Centre pending the next adjourned date.
