By Engr. Luke Mmamel

Enugu, Nigeria – May22, 2024: In a shocking turn of events that had raised concerns about the integrity of the Enugu State judiciary and correctional services, Musa Hassan, accused of absconding with 200 cows valued at over 100 million Naira, has been fraudulently released from custody under suspicious circumstances.

Background of the Case:

Musa Hassan had been employed by me since 1980 to look after my herd of cows, which had grown significantly over the years. However, in 2019, Musa absconded with the entire herd, severed communication, and relocated his family from their long-time residence in Ibeagwa Nike, Enugu, to Kogi State. After an exhaustive search and considerable effort, I managed to locate him in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The case was promptly reported to the Enugu State Police Command, and Musa was subsequently transferred from Okirika Police Station in Rivers State to Enugu. He was arraigned in Magistrate Court 5 of the Enugu East Magisterial Division under Charge No. CME/340c/2021. Despite being granted bail, Musa was unable to meet the bail conditions and was therefore remanded at the Enugu Custodial Centre.

Suspicious Court Proceedings:

For a year, Musa failed to appear in court despite being seen on the court premises. An investigation revealed that he had been granted bail by Magistrate Court 6 on December 20, 2022, while the case was still listed in Court 5. This irregularity raised several questions:

• Why was Musa presented to Court 6 instead of Court 5?
• How did a Magistrate who was not officially recorded as the presiding magistrate for Court 6, become involved?
• Why did Court 6 purportedly not sit on the day the bail was granted?

These anomalies suggest a coordinated effort by some magisterial and correctional services staff to fraudulently release Musa, thereby obstructing justice.

Call for Action:

Given the gravity of this situation, it is imperative to address these concerns to uphold the rule of law and maintain public trust in our institutions. Therefore, I am calling on the Enugu State Police Command to:

1. Launch a Thorough Investigation: A comprehensive inquiry into the fraudulent release of Musa Hassan is essential. The investigation should focus on the involvement of magisterial staff and correctional services personnel in potential corruption and malpractice.
2. Recover the Stolen Cows: Immediate steps should be taken to recover my stolen cows, valued at over 100 million Naira.
3. Ensure Accountability: Those found responsible for this fraudulent activity should be held accountable to restore the integrity of our criminal justice system.

Conclusion:

This case underscores the need for transparency and accountability within our judiciary and correctional services. It is crucial to ensure that such breaches of trust do not occur again, and justice is served for all parties involved.

For further details and updates on this case, please contact Engr. Luke Mmamel at [email protected] or 08033416746.

Engr. Luke Mmamel