By Auwal Ahmad, Gombe
Gombe Local Government Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman, Mr Khalid Mu’azu Izala will know his fate in the allegation of defamation of character of some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) members before Chief Magistrate’s Court 4, who will hear the case.
Mr Izala was arrested by the State Lowcost Police Divisional Office on Friday 28th August 2020 on the request of one Garba Mohammed Mairago, who accused him of using his Facebook page sometime in 2019 to write defamatory statements against him (Mairago) and some unnamed members of the APC in the state.
The PDP spokesman was arraigned by the police prosecutor, Sergeant Joel Peter on 1st September 2020 and was charged with one-count charge of defamation of character contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code Law.
According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), read to the accused when he appeared in court on Tuesday, he was accused of posting on his Facebook page that Garba Mairago and some members of the APC are planning to ‘terrorize’ him.
The Police Prosecutor, Sergeant Joel Peter said the accused was charged with a one-count charge of defamation of character which was contrary to Section 391 of the Penal Code Law.
When asked by the court if the information as contained in the FIR is true, Khalid Izala denied the allegation.
Therefore, his defence counsels, Barristers Habu Abdu and Benjamin Sati applied for his bail under Sections 36 (5), 36 (B) of the 1999 constitution as amended and Sections 340 (1), 341 (3) and 342 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).
However, Sergeant Peter objected to the bail application and told the court that the accused person may jump bail or obstruct the ongoing police investigation if he is released from detention.
The presiding judge, Chief Magistrate Bello Sharrif adjourned the case to today 8th September 2020 for ruling on the bail application.