A Magistrate Court sitting in Sokoto has refused granting bail to two suspects arrested over the murder of a 200-level student of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Deborah Samuel.
The court in its ruling on Monday reserved the ruling on the bail application and ordered that the suspects be remanded at a correctional centre.
This was sequel to the bail application filed by the defence counsel, Prof. Mansur Ibrahim, citing constitutional provisions and sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
The Sokoto state police command had arrested two suspects, Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunchi, who were allegedly linked to the gruesome murder of Deborah. The duo were subsequently arraigned before the Sokoto Chief Magistrates’ Court.
Both suspects pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against them following their arraignment.
Ibrahim, in his prayers cited sections 157, 161(a,f) and 164 of the administration of criminal justice law of Sokoto state, as well as 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The court, however, reserved the judgment, adjourning ruling on the application to a later date which would be communicated to the lawyers.
The court also directed the defendants to be remanded at the Sokoto Correctional Centre.
Recall that The New Diplomat had reported that Deborah was beaten and set ablaze by her colleagues. The students, believed to be Muslim faithfuls were said to be enraged over alleged blasphemous language used by Deborah on their WhatsApp group chat.
