FATHER AND SON ARRESTED AND JUDGE FOR GUN-RUNNING AND TERRORISM

Nuhu Marafa, a suspected gun-runner was on Friday in Kaduna arraigned before a Kaduna Chief Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge of illegal possession of arms and funding a terror group.

Marafa, 54, who was a former National Treasurer of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association (PTDA), was arrested on January 14, along with his son Musa, for alleged gun-running and having links with a terror group.
The Nigerian Army had conducted a search on the suspect’s house, located at Trikania, opposite IBBI Brewery Company in Kaduna, where items, including pump-action gun and 43 assorted ammunition were allegedly recovered.
The army authorities paraded the suspect and his son before newsmen on January 16, while his second son, Yusuf, now at large, has since been declared wanted by 1 Division of the Nigerian Army in Kaduna, also for alleged possession of arms.

Marafa, had through his Counsel, Mr Bello Ibrahim, on February 2, approached a Federal High Court in Kaduna, seeking an order to allow the enforcement of his fundamental human rights and the immediate release of the suspects by the Army.

The counsel, in an address before the court, said that Marafa’s detention was illegal and violated his human rights as enshrined in order two, rules 1-5 and order 4 of the Fundamental Human Rights Rules, 2009.
Those joined in the affidavit include the Nigerian Army, Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding 1 Division, Nigerian Army and the Attorney General of the Federation.
To buttress his argument for the release of his client, the counsel sighted sections 34, 35, 37 and 46 of the Constitution of Nigeria as amended as well as articles II, IV, V, VII (1 and 2) of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights Act and the UN Declaration on Human Rights.
Ibrahim sought a court order enforcing his client’s right to human dignity, personal liberty and privacy, which according him has been violated by the third respondent.
He said that the first respondent violated his client’s right by parading him before national and international media.
However, at the resumed hearing of the case on February 8, Biola Oyebanjo, counsel to the defendants, who announced that he was representing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents, presented two applications before the court.

He sought the approval of the court to join the Director General of the SSS as party to the case and to withdraw the third respondent (GOC 1 Division) from the list of respondents.

Justice Lucia Ojukwu, the presiding Judge, however, refused Oyebanjo’s prayers.

Ojukwu adjourned the case to Feb. 16 for ruling on the substantive suit.

In a twist to the case however, the Army and the SSS jointly arraigned Marafa before the Chief Magistrates’ Court on a two-count charge on Friday.

Meanwhile, counsel to the defendant, Sani Katu’s oral application for bail had been denied as the court said it was not convinced by the mode of the application and asked him to apply in writing, which would be considered during the next sitting.

The presiding officer, Chief Magistrate Bashir Bello, adjourned the case to March 8 and directed that the accused be remanded at the CID for further investigation. (NAN)