The Social Democratic Party SDP’s Campaign Organisation has once again alleged political victimisation against the party’s Governorship Candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka and his supporters.
Just as the organisation alleged the State government under governor Bello has continued to mislead the public on the reality of the situation.
This accusation came after the Court of Appeal in Abuja had refused the applications for bail of suspected criminals allegedly associated with the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in Kogi State, Muritala Yakubu.
But a press statement signed by the Director of Communications Organisation Mr.Farouk Adejoh Audu, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Lokoja on Monday said:
“Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media declaring supporters who were refused bail by the Court of Appeal as “thugs”linked to our candidate.
“It is trite law that anyone standing trial for any offense whatsoever is presumed innocent until proven otherwise and convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“We are therefore shocked that some traditional media of communication succumbed to getting misled by the desperate government of Mr Bello and his security hatchet-men to declare innocent citizens as criminals to prejudice their trial.
“In the course of time it shall be clear from evidence that these persons were law abiding citizens seized on their way from Ajaka to Abuja by agents of Mr Bello with the connivance of certain security personnel and quickly branded as “bandits” and ” kidnappers.
The appellants/applicants’ motion for bail had earlier been refused by Hon. Justice Jamil Isah of the Kogi State High Court, sitting in Lokoja.
“The Court of Appeal, presided by Hon. Justice Mohammed Mustapha JCA, in a well considered judgement delivered on Friday, in the appeals marked “CA/ABJ/PRE/CR/544MI/2023”, also refused their bail applications.
“Ojonimi Apeh, Esq appeared for the Appellants/Applicants, while Badama Kadiri, Esq (DPP) appeared for the Respondent.”
The Appellants – Kabiri Echi Iyalo, Adama Kerim, Kabir Abdullahi and Salisu Isah Umar – were intercepted during a joint operation of security agencies on their way to Abuja on March 26, 2023, according to a statement signed by the spokesperson for the Department of State Services, Peter Afunanya, on that day.
Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja
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