Trial of Commissioner, 2 Others

The Former Kano state Commissioner of Lands and Physical Planning, Farouk Bibi Farouk and two others standing trial for land racketeering and breach of trust were on Friday appeared before Kano High court. Bibi-Farouk, alongside Mahmud Bello-Bari, a former permanent Secretary and Ahmad Ibrahim, a former Director in the ministry, were accused of illegal sale of two plots of land and issuance of fake certificate of occupancy. When the case came up for hearing on Friday, the state counsel, Rabi Ibrahim-Waya called a fifth witness but there were objections to some of the document she wanted to tender before the Court. One of the documents was the statement of Ibrahim, the third accused person, which his counsel objected to, saying it was obtained under duress.The Judge, Justice Nasiru Saminu after hearing the argument of both parties, adjourned the case to April 7, for trial within trial in respect of the said statement of the third accused.