A Jos High Court has fixed November 19, 2021, for ruling on the application for bail of the nine accused persons alleged to have killed commuters who were on board from Bauchi to Akure and missed their way to Rukuba road in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.
When the matter which is before justice Musa Ashom, came up for hearing on Wednesday, October 13, 2021, the Prosecuting Counsel, Barr. NP Tali, told the court that the matter was for the ruling on application and continuation of hearing.
The Prosecuting Counsel further told the court that prosecution will not continue because one of the accused persons who is a minor was not in court and cannot be prosecuted in absentia.
Yakubu Bawa who is the Counsel to the 1st-6th accused person in quick response, volunteered his car to facilitate the bringing of the accused minor who is in the custody of the Young Peoples’ Home facility to the court.
As against the background, the presiding judge, Justice Musa Ashom, ordered that the case be stood down for an hour to enable the accused to be brought to court.
On resumption, the Counsel to 1st-6th accused persons moved the application for the accused persons bail and assured the court that his clients will always avail themselves throughout the trial and ruled out the fear that his clients may likely jump bail.
But the prosecuting counsel vehemently opposed the bail application moved by the Defending Counsel, Yakubu Bawa, on the ground that the offence is a capital one which if the accused persons are granted bail, they are capable of posing risk to the society and setting a bad precedence.
After listening to both arguments, the Presiding Judge, however, adjourned the matter to November 19, 2021, for ruling on the bail application and continuation of hearing and ordered the accused persons and the minor to be remanded in the correctional centre and Young Peoples’ Home respectively.