CRIME Ex-military man’s son docked for attempted murder of policeman

The FCT Police Command has arraigned a 49-year-old son of former army officer for attempted murder of a policeman attached to the Inspector General of Police Strike Force.

The defendant, Yusuf Mohammed Haladu, also charged with the offence of illegal possession of firearm and ammunitions, however pleaded not guilty to the 6-count charge when read to him before a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The police alleged that the defendant aimed and shot at Corporal Enoch Ibrahim when he was accosted and questioned by the officer.

However, in the defendant’s statement made available to Daily Trust, he claimed that he noticed that Ibrahim (described as a man in a white kaftan) was drunk when he accosted him and a lady that was with him. “I honestly thought he was a robber,” he said.

He said he later saw Ibrahim assaulting the lady in her compound and since he couldn’t stand by and watch, he charged at him with a pistol in its case. He added that he used the pistol to hit Ibrahim’s face in the scuffle that ensued. He said the pistol belonged to his late father.

The trial judge, Justice Anwuri Chikere, ordered that the defendant be remanded in prison custody until his lawyer filed a bail application which would be heard today and adjourned the substantive suit to November 21 for commencement of hearing.

“Bail application in the Federal High Court is not made orally. Therefore he will be remanded in prison custody pending when your application is made.

“If you want him out of prison, file your processes. We will come back and hear it. If you file it today (Tuesday), it will be fixed for hearing tomorrow (today),” Justice Chikere held.