APC chieftain who made accusations against Gov Bala detained as defence counsel vanishes from court

A magistrate court sitting in Bauchi on Thursday ordered the detention of a chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi, Umar Muhammed Mai Fata for accusing Governor Bala Mohammed of spending N1 billion from government coffers to fund the recent election in Bayelsa State.

While addressing the court, the Police prosecution counsel from Bauchi State Police Command, Inspector Ayuba Danladi who filed the suit on behalf of the state commissioner of police, told the court that Mai Fata made the allegation on a radio program aired across the state.

According to Inspector Ayuba Danladi, Mai Fata alleged during the radio interview that governor Mohammed took N1 billion from government coffers to fund the governorship election in Bayelsa state, where he served as Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship campaign committee.

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During court proceedings, counsel to Mai Fata, Barrister Usman Bappha, asked the court to give him five minutes to go out and bring some legal documents to support their arguments of defence which the court granted.

However, counsel to Mai Fata failed to return to the court with the legal documents to support their arguments of defence after 30 minutes forcing the prosecutor to urge the court to adjourn hearing until when the defence counsel is ready for preceding.

The case was later adjourned to 23rd December 2019 by the presiding Magistrate, Safiya Doma who ordered the accused person to be remanded in prison till the next adjourned date.

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