Court Remands Whistleblower Mahadi Shehu In Police Custody

A Federal High Court sitting in Katsina has ordered that Mahadi
Shehu, a whistleblower, be kept in police custody pending when a
written bail application will be heard on Friday.

The Presiding judge, Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, gave the
order on Monday when Mahdi was arraigned on a six-count charges
bordering on cybercrime against Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello
Masari and members of his cabinet.

After reading the charges to the defendant, to which he said he
understood but decided to keep mute on the plea of guilty or not on
the advice of his counsel, the prosecution counsel, Barrister Simon
Lough, asked the court to remand the defendant in prison
custody.

But the judge said based on the physical condition of the
defendant, she could not remand him in prison but that he should
remain in police custody.

The defense counsel, Barrister M.I. Abubakar, then indicated
interest to file an oral application for bail but the judge
refused.

Earlier, the defense counsel filed a motion on notice,
challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case
brought before it.

He argued that the complainant, Inspector General of Police, had
“flagrantly disobeyed” an Abuja Federal High Court order, ordering
the release of Mahdi on bail.

Other grounds on which the defense party stood were that
multiple charges could not be filed in different courts against the
same accused based on the same facts, as well as fear of likelihood
of bias by the Katsina Federal High court.

However the judge ruled that the court would go ahead with the
proceedings and since the matter was for arraignment, the court
will not accept any objections before the arraignment.

In a related development, a Katsina High Court sitting in
Dutsinma had struck out an appeal for stay of proceedings filed by,
Mahadi Shehu, who wanted the court to set aside an order of warrant
of arrest issued against him by a Sharia Court in Katsina

The court had earlier in February, while sitting at Malumfashi,
adjourned the appeal to commence on march 8 following request by
the counsel to the respondents to adjourn the case following some
typographical errors noticed in the responses he filed.

Shehu’s earlier refusal to appear before the court for the
continuation of hearing in the Defamation suit filed by Secretary
to Katsina State Government, SGS, Dr Mustapha Inuwa, against him
for alleged Insults and Defamation of Character, had prompted the
Sharia Court order.

A Federal High Court sitting in Katsina has ordered that Mahadi
Shehu, a whistleblower, be kept in police custody pending when a
written bail application will be heard on Friday.

The Presiding judge, Justice Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, gave the
order on Monday when Mahdi was arraigned on a six-count charges
bordering on cybercrime against Katsina State Governor, Aminu Bello
Masari and members of his cabinet.

After reading the charges to the defendant, to which he said he
understood but decided to keep mute on the plea of guilty or not on
the advice of his counsel, the prosecution counsel, Barrister Simon
Lough, asked the court to remand the defendant in prison
custody.

But the judge said based on the physical condition of the
defendant, she could not remand him in prison but that he should
remain in police custody.

The defense counsel, Barrister M.I. Abubakar, then indicated
interest to file an oral application for bail but the judge
refused.

Earlier, the defense counsel filed a motion on notice,
challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the case
brought before it.

He argued that the complainant, Inspector General of Police, had
“flagrantly disobeyed” an Abuja Federal High Court order, ordering
the release of Mahdi on bail.

Other grounds on which the defense party stood were that
multiple charges could not be filed in different courts against the
same accused based on the same facts, as well as fear of likelihood
of bias by the Katsina Federal High court.

However the judge ruled that the court would go ahead with the
proceedings and since the matter was for arraignment, the court
will not accept any objections before the arraignment.

In a related development, a Katsina High Court sitting in
Dutsinma had struck out an appeal for stay of proceedings filed by,
Mahadi Shehu, who wanted the court to set aside an order of warrant
of arrest issued against him by a Sharia Court in Katsina

The court had earlier in February, while sitting at Malumfashi,
adjourned the appeal to commence on march 8 following request by
the counsel to the respondents to adjourn the case following some
typographical errors noticed in the responses he filed.

Shehu’s earlier refusal to appear before the court for the
continuation of hearing in the Defamation suit filed by Secretary
to Katsina State Government, SGS, Dr Mustapha Inuwa, against him
for alleged Insults and Defamation of Character, had prompted the
Sharia Court order.