WULARI Magistrate Court 5 yesterday ordered 18 suspected members of the Boko Haram sect who allegedly took part in the July 2009 sectarian crisis in Maiduguri to be remanded in prison custody.
The presiding, Chief Magistrate Waziri Mohammed, while in ruling that his court lacked the jurisdiction to listen to the case transferred the case to the Federal High Court was Maiduguri. He ordered that the suspects be kept in prison custody, while the case adjourned to Febuary 21.
The Borno state Police command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Isa Azare told newsmen that the suspects were arrested last week at various locations in Maiduguri but declined to comment whether they were carrying weapons.
Earlier, when the case came up for mention, prosecuting counsel from the Borno state Ministry of Justice, Bukar Bundi told the court that the suspects were being arraigned on 10-count charge of criminal conspiracy, inciting disturbance, membership of unlawful assembly and joint assembly armed with deadly weapons.
Other charges, according to the prosecutor, were voluntary causing grievous hurt to deter public servants from their duties, mischief by fire, culpable homicide and treason all contrary to sections 96, 79, 80, 102 and 103, 252 and 221 of the Penal Code and Sections 24, 410 and 415 of Federal Province Act of Northern Nigeria of 1964.
Although the accused persons pleaded not guilty to all the charges, Bundi, however, prayed the court to remand them in prison custody to enable him gather more facts on the case. Counsel to the defendants, Ali Modu did not object to the prayer.
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