Police says court to determine case against 5 Maiduguri suspects
By Ahmed Kaigama
The Police Command in Borno has urged members of the public to allow the court to determine the case involving five suspects arrested in Maiduguri over alleged incitement, breach of public peace, thuggery and possession of suspected illicit drugs.
The Command’s spokesman, ASP Nahum Daso, made the appeal in a statement on Wednesday in Maiduguri.
Daso said the suspects were arrested on Sept. 25, at about 6 p.m., during a routine township patrol around West End Roundabout in the metropolis.
He said the suspects were allegedly found with 15 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, 100 tablets suspected to be D5, one shisha pot and a pair of scissors.
According to him, two T-shirts bearing the inscription, “Tinubu Must Go,” were also recovered from the suspects.
Daso said the suspects were subjected to preliminary investigation, during which statements were obtained from them, adding that the case was subsequently charged before a competent court.
He stressed that the Nigeria Police Force remained a professional and non-partisan institution and did not discriminate against persons on the basis of their political affiliation or viewpoint.
The spokesman said the decision to charge the suspects was to allow due judicial process to take its course.
He urged members of the public to rely on verified information and allow the court to determine the matter based on facts and evidence presented before it.
The Police, however, maintained that the court should determine the case based on the evidence presented before it.
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Borno Chapter, condemned the arrest, describing it as an alleged abuse of power and an attack on democratic freedoms.
In a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Baba Mustapha, the party demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the five youths.
The ADC argued that wearing political-inscription T-shirts constituted an expression of opinion protected by the Constitution, and called on security agencies to remain professional.
The party also urged civil society organisations and other stakeholders to scrutinise the matter
NAN
