Detained Kaduna journalist Binniyat granted bail

By Usman Ibn A.  Lapai Kaduna–

Kaduna High Court judge, Justice Bashir Sukola, yesterday, granted bail to detained journalist, Luka Binniyat, after spending over three months in prison custody.
Shortly before granting the bail to the ex-Vanguard reporter, Sukola had given 15 minutes break in the proceedings and advised both prosecution counsel, led by Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN) and defence, Barr James Kanyip, to go and privately sort out the bail conditions and bring back their resolutions to the court.
It was thereafter decided that the bail be granted the accused with two sureties, upon presentation of bank statement of not less than N10 million credit each.
In addition, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Kaduna state council was expected to stand surety to the accused, a condition that was fair, compared to the initial bail bond of two sureties within the jurisdiction of the court, each with bank account with not less than N10m each, attached with the originals of their international passports.
Th e court, which swelled up with sympathisers of Binniyat and others, who were against him, was relatively calm throughout the proceedings.
In an interview with newsmen outside the courtroom, wife of the accused, Mrs. Gladys Luka Binniyat, thanked God that her husband had finally secured reprieve.

“Th e children really missed their father, especially the last two, but the younger ones understand what is happening, especially based on what they have been reading on the social media,” she said.

Notable among those in court for Binniyiat, included the National President of the NUJ, Comrade Waheed Odusile, National Secretary, Shuaibu Leman, Vice President North West, Comrade Yusuf Idris, Kaduna Council Chairman, Comrade Adamu Yusuf, Secretary, Dauda Doka, human rights activist, Dr. John Danfulani and former Kaduna state Attorney General, BarrMark Jacob.

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