Covid-19: Court grants bail to curfew violators


A  Kaduna Chief Magistrate Court on Monday granted bail at the sum of N1 million each to the two clerics and their followers who allegedly violated curfew by conducting congregational prayers last Friday.
The 10 defendants, led by Malam Aminu Umar Usman from Malali and Malam Umar Shangel from Ungwan Kanawa, were accused of criminal conspiracy and disobedience to public orders, charges to which they all pleaded not guilty.


According to the prosecuting counsel, Dari Bayero, the defendants’ action is capable of spreading Coronavirus in Kaduna state.
Kaduna state government had announced the arrest of two clerics for conducting Friday congregational prayers in two communities of Kaduna North local government area, in violation of the curfew imposed to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

On Monday, the two clerics and eight members of their congregations were arraigned, with those from Ungwan Kanawa arraigned at Magistrate Court 1, while those from Malali were arraigned separately at  Court 16.  


All defendants were granted bail but will have to produce sureties who must be senior government officials with proof of landed property in Kaduna state, failure of which they will be remanded at the Correctional Centre.
The two cases have been adjourned to April 22  and April 29 respectively.

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