Dutse Chief Magistrates’ Court in Jigawa State yesterday rejected an application by ex-Governor Sule Lamido to throw out a case against him for lack of jurisdiction.
The court, presided over by the Magistrate, Mohammed Usman Lamin, in his ruling over an application by the defence counsel filed last Monday, rejected the argument by the accused that the attorney-general had no power in the case as provided in Section 393 of the Penal Code.
The former governor was arraigned for inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace, defamation of character and criminal intimidation, contrary to sections 144, 113, 397 and 372 of the Penal Code and not in accordance with Section 393.
Lamin rejected the application to throw out the case, arguing that counsel to the defendant could not convince the court, based on evidence that the trial was an abuse of court procedures.
He dismissed the submission of the defendant’s lawyer that the four charges were interwoven and that if one was thrown out, the rest should be thrown out.
The magistrate said the charges were made under sections of the law, adding that they were independent of each other.
Counsel to the defendant, Yakubu Ruba, who was not pleased with the judgment, said his client would appeal.
The chief magistrate adjourned the case till October 11 for hearing.
Lamido was arraigned on a four-count charge of inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace, defamation of character and criminal intimidation, contrary to sections 144, 113, 397 and 372 of the Penal Code.