…Former SGF, Lawal, denies inciting voice message
The police in Sokoto State have arraigned two suspects in connection with the murder of Deborah Samuel, a second-year level female student of the Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto.
The suspects, Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunchi, who are also students of the college, were arraigned before a chief magistrates’ court in the state yesterday.
The police First Information Report (FIR) indicated that the suspects were arraigned as a result of the mob action which led to the lynching of Deborah last Thursday.
The prosecutor, Inspector Khalil Musa, asked the court for another date to allow the police to complete their investigation.
The defence counsel, led by Professor Mansur Ibrahim, did not oppose the application but pleaded with the court to grant the defendants bail, citing Sections 157, 161(a and f) and 164 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Sokoto State, as well as Section 36(5) of
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, has distanced himself from a voice note making the rounds on the social media purportedly inciting Christians to retaliate the recent murder of Miss Deborah Samuel and the burning of Church properties in Sokoto.
He said despite his strong condemnation of the killing and burning of property, it was never in his character to incite revenge.
Lawal, in a statement he personally signed on Monday, urged all his friends and family to ignore the the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The court then adjourned the ruling on the application to a later date which it noted would be communicated to the lawyers and ordered the defendants to be remanded at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
Meanwhile, Governor Aminu Tambuwal has relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on the Sokoto metropolis on Saturday. The curfew will now be from dusk to dawn.
The governor imposed the curfew to contain the protest that followed the arrest of two suspects in malicious act.
The statement read in part, “There is a voice note being circulated in the social media purported to have been made by me inciting Christians to retaliate the recurring violence repeatedly unleashed on Christian individuals, their communities and their property epitomised by the recent burning to death of Miss Deborah Samuel and Church property in Sokoto.
“While I rightly feel indignant about these killings, it is not in my character to incite people to retaliate. Besides, the voice on the voice note is not mine neither is it in my character to incite revenge. connection with the murder of Deborah.
A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Isa Bajini-Galadanchi, stated that the relaxation of the curfew followed briefings by security agencies in the state.
“The review is to enable people to go about their legitimate businesses and other means of livelihood,” he added.
The commissioner quoted Tambuwal as advising residents to maintain peace and warned that government would not condone any breach of the law.
“The Bible clearly urges believers to leave vengeance to God and I have always urged all victims of religious bigotry and violence to obey this injunction. And I am particularly heartened that the parents of Deborah Samuel have chosen this path.
“For those whose interest is best served by this wicked and cowardly act of trying to sully my name, I wish them well. But certainly, it was not done by me neither did I say such. Certainly, the voice is not mine, the sentiment is not mine and the grammar is not mine.
“I, therefore, urge all my friends and family to ignore this malicious act. It will backfire on the evil men.”