In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the governorship election dispute in Nasarawa state, the police have taken decisive action against individuals allegedly involved in public disturbance during the protests that ensued. The apex court had, on Friday, upheld Abdullahi Sule as the duly elected governor of Nasarawa, leading to a series of demonstrations in Lafia, the state capital.
The Nasarawa police command confirmed the arrest of 38 individuals in connection with the public disturbance. Protesters took to the streets, burning tires and blocking the expressway to Jos, the capital city of Plateau state. The unrest prompted law enforcement to intervene swiftly and apprehend those believed to be responsible for the disturbance.
Ramhan Nansel, the spokesperson for the Nasarawa police command, disclosed that the 38 suspects were promptly charged and brought before the chief magistrates’ court 3 in Lafia. The suspects, comprising five men and 33 women, were arraigned on charges related to their alleged involvement in the public disturbance.
According to Nansel, the suspects were charged under applicable laws, and the case was presented to Chief Magistrate Mohammed Lanze. The proceedings took an interesting turn when Illiya Ashokpa, the defense counsel, sought bail for the accused individuals. However, the prosecution counsel, Danjuma Allu, requested that the ruling on the bail application be reserved until Monday.
In a legal maneuver, Ashokpa’s attempt to secure bail for the suspects was met with resistance, as the chief magistrate opted to defer the decision. The suspects were subsequently remanded at the Lafia custodial center pending further legal proceedings.
