Bauchi Sharia Court Hears Case Against Islamic Cleric June 19

The upper Sharia Court sitting in Bauchi, Monday adjourned for hearing to June 19, 2023 in a case of inciting public disturbance against an Islamic Cleric, Dr. Idris Abdul’aziz.

The presiding judge, Mallam Husaini  Turaki reserved rulings on two applications filed before the court by his counsel, Barrister Abubakar Sadiq Ilelah for setting aside an earlier order seeking his client’s arrest, and for case mentioning for plea of the accused to be taken.

Last week, the court ordered a bench warrant for the arrest of accused Idris Abdul’aziz following his failure to appear before it for mention of the case.

Speaking to the press after the court’s adjourned sitting, the counsel to the accused, Barr. Abubakar Ilelah said that they were able to produce their client in the court, unlike his last week’s failure to appear before it which, counsel attributed, to health grounds.

Ilelah said, “We presented our client’s medical report to the fact that Abdul’aziz was sick, that’s why he could not attend the last week sitting of the court. We also applied that the court should set aside the order earlier given for the accused arrest.

“We also have an argument that they want the case to be mentioned, the plea of the accused person taken. And we say it should not because we already filed a notice of preliminary objection contending that the court has no powers to adjudicate over the allegation against our client.,”

It could also be recalled that Abdul’aziz was early last month arrested by the police operatives and charged to a Bauchi Chief Magistrate Court for alleged incitement of public disturbance, and was able to fulfill the bail condition only after spending seven consecutive days in Bauchi Custodial Centre.

Bauchi State solicitor-general, Barrister Ibn Idris refused to speak with journalists on the issue.