By Amos Tauna
Former Bureau Chief of Vanguard Newspapers in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, Luka Binniyat, standing trial before justice Bashir Sukola at Kaduna High Court on alleged false publication is likely to spend another 40 days in prison till October 9 following the stringent bail conditions given since July 20, 2017.
Binniyat has been in prison custody since July 12, 2017 when he was arraigned before Justice Bashir Sukola.
The High Court had on 20th July, 2017 granted stringent bail conditions to Mr. Binniyat before Justice Sokula with two sureties were to bring their international passports with N10m each and a bank bond to that effect to the amount of money pending the duration of the case.
The case was adjourned to October 9 following an appeal for adjournment filed by the prosecuting counsel led by Kaduna State Director of Public Prosecution, Bayero Dari on Thursday at Kaduna State High Court 10.
Dari had filed an instant application for adjournment citing the change of prosecuting counsel, with the defence counsel, Barrister James Kanyip opposed, but failed to overturn the ruling.
The failure of the accused to get a review of the bail condition was a rude shock to hundreds of Binniyat’s supporters who thronged the court.
case came up at the Kaduna High Court on Thursday, the prosecuting counsel led by the Kaduna State Director of Public Prosecution, Bayero Dari.
This was the realization after his case was adjourned to October 9, following an appeal for adjournment filed by the prosecuting counsel led by Kaduna State Director of Public Prosecution, Bayero Dari on Thursday at Kaduna State High Court 10.
Dari had filed an instant application for adjournment citing the change of prosecuting counsel, with the defence counsel, Barrister James Kanyip opposed, but failed to overturn.
The failure of the accused to get a review of the bail condition was a rude shock to hundreds of Binniyat’s supporters who thronged the court.
While speaking to newsmen outside the court, Director of Public Prosecution, Dari, said that the adjournment was not deliberate.
He explained that the instant adjournment was necessary because the case had been transferred to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who has been debriefed and needed time to go through the case file.
He explained that the instant adjournment was necessary because the case had been transferred to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, who has been debriefed and needed time to go through the case file.
When fielding questions, lead counsel to the accused, Barrister Kanyip, said he was disappointed that the bail condition review was not done at Thursday’s sitting.
He argued that the motion for review of the bail condition was filed since August 7 and the prosecuting team had ample time to study it.
“I am okay with the adjournment of the hearing of the case, but disappointed that review of the bail was not entertained,” he complained.
Barr. Kanyip promised to seek redress at the Court of Appeal if his motion was not treated satisfactorily.
The court was premises swarmed with several top Southern Kaduna elite, Kaduna journalists and members of the accused’s family.
