State High Court 10 sitting in Kaduna yesterday asked that former Kaduna Correspondent of Vanguard Newspapers, Luka Binniyat, still be remanded in Kaduna prison pending the time his bail conditions would be reviewed.
Binniyat is being tried over a report he wrote about crisis in Southern Kaduna, published in Vanguard Newspaper earlier this year, but which alleged to be false.
He was sent back to court by presiding Judge, Justice Bashir Sukola after spending 52 days in prison due to his inability to meet his bail requirements.
“All things being equal, he will be spending another 40 days in prison before his bail condition will be reviewed by the court.
Th e case was adjourned to October 9, 2017 as a result of an appeal for adjournment fi led by the prosecuting counsel led by Kaduna State Director of Public Prosecution, Bayero Dari.
Dari had fi led an instant application for adjournment citing the change of prosecuting counsel, with the defence counsel, Barrister James Kanyip opposed, but could not get the mercy o his Lord.
Speaking to newsmen outside the court Director of Public Prosecution, Dari, said that the adjournment was not deliberate.
He explained that the instant adjournment was necessary because the case had been transferred to a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who has been debriefed and needed time to go through the case fi le.
Lead counsel to the accused, Barrister Kanyip said he was disappointed that the bail condition review was not done at Thursday’s sitting.
He argued that the motion for review of the bail condition was fi led since August 7 and the prosecuting team had ample time to study it.
“I am okay with the adjournment of the hearing of the case, but disappointed that review of the bail was not entertained,” he said.
When asked what would be his next line of action if his motion is not treated satisfactorily, he vowed to further seek redress at the court of appeal.
