COURT DISCHARGES CHIEF IMAM AFTER SPENDING 12 YRS IN YOLA PRISON AWAITING TRIAL

The Chief Imam of Inmates at the Jimeta Correctional Centre, Adamawa State, Imam Bala Mohammed, has been discharged after spending 12 years in prison custody awaiting trial.

Imam Bala, was discharged by the Adamawa State High Court of Justice presided by Hon. Justice Bulila Ladokiya Ikaro, for lack of  prosecution's witness(s).

Hon. Justice Bulila, discharged the defendant after spending 12 years behind bars pending when witnesses will be assembled by the prosecution.

The defendant who was awaiting trial was arraigned before the erstwhile Chief Judge, I. K. Banu, and later arraigned before Justice Bulila, where the case was mentioned denovo.

He was accused of killing a man identified as Musa Buba, of Shuware village in Mubi North Local Government Area, on 4th March, 2011by shooting him with a dane gun.

According to the prosecution, the offence contravened section 221 (1) of the penal code law 2018, of which he pleaded not guilty.

NEWS PLATFORM gathered that Imam Bala through his counsel, Aji Kamale, had earlier approached the court with bail application where he informed the court that he had since reformed his life for better.

He added that he has been inconsistent these days in leading prayers due to health challenges, saying that it was his family who sometimes bring traditional medicine for him at the centre.

He said that he has asthma and hypertension and sometimes he feels like convulsion, and alleged that there is no enough facilities to diagnose his ill health at the centre.

The Chief Imam, who was full of joy, said he is happy that the court has considered his plight and discharged him, lamenting that he was detained for 12 years awaiting trial.