By Suleman T. Ahmad
The name of the embattled House majority leader, Alhassan Ado Doguwa is missing on the final list of members-elect of the house of representatives released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) billed to receive certificates of returns today.
Ado Doguwa was declared winner for Doguwa/Tudun-Wada federal constituency on February 26 by the Returning Officer of the constituency, Professor Ibrahim Adamu Yakasai.
Yakasai declared that Doguwa of the APC won with 39,732 votes to defeat his closest rival, retired Air Vice Marshal Yushau Salisu Abdullahi of the NNPP who polled 34,798 votes.
But in the final list released by the INEC on its verified Twitter handle, the electoral body stated that the declaration was made “under duress.”
SMARTS NEWS gathered that the INEC official declared Doguwa the winner of the election at gunpoint.
Murder allegations.
Alhassan Ado Doguwa was arrested on March 1 by the Police at Aminu Kano International Airport and according to reports, the lawmaker is suspected of leading an attack on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in his constituency, which resulted in the death of six people.
Doguwa was arraigned before a Magistrate Court for prosecution by Kano state Commissioner of Police on five-count charge bothering on criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, unlawful possession of firearms, mischief and incitement of public disturbance which contravenes Sections 97, 114, 221,247 and 336 of the penal code.
The court, presided over by Magistrate Ibrahim Mansur Yola, remanded the House leader in prison till March 7, 2023, when the case came up.
But a Federal High Court sitting in Kano, yesterday (Monday), and presided over by Justice Muhammad Nasir-Yunus, granted bail to the Alhassan Garba Ado Doguwa, in the sum of N500 million and two reliable sureties in like sum.
The bail followed an ex-parte application filed by his Counsel, Nuraini Jimoh (SAN) who prayed the court to admit the defendant on bail, arguing that his client was presumed innocent, pursuant to the provision of section 35 sub 6 of constitution of Federal of Nigeria (1999 as amended).
Reacting to the development, a lawyer and an activist, Audu Bulama Bukarti opined that Magistrate Court has no jurisdiction to hear the case in the first place so also the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to grant the bail of the suspect adding that only a state high court has jurisdiction on the matter and that murder suspect are not bailable.
