By AbdulSalam Muhammad

KANO — Kano State Commissioner in charge of Land, Dr. Faruk Bibi Faruk; his Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Bello Bari, and a director were, yesterday, arraigned before the state high court over alleged land deal.

The suspects were earlier investigated by the state anti corruption agency  before they were dragged before Justice Nasiru Saminu of Court 22 on a three-count charge.

Faruk, Bari and a director were accused of selling  an already allocated plot of land to one Baba Sharu at the cost of N5 million  sometimes in April 2016, thereby committing an offence punishable under section 315 of criminal panel code.

The prosecuting counsel, Rabi Ibrahim Waya, also accused the suspects of breach of trust in their capacity as public servants and in the process committed an offence punishable under section 97 of the panel code.

The state counsel also accused the public servants  of having  issued two Occupancy Permits, C8 and C21, at Kunya ta’Inna covered by layout plan TP/KNUPDA/338 at Kumbotso in the fictitious names of Aisha Kabeer and Maryam Ado which were sold at the cost of N300,000 each.

However, the accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The defense counsel, Akinola Kahinde (SAN), prayed that his clients be granted bail and also needed to have access to the charge sheets which would allow them counter issues raised adequately.

The presiding Judge, Justice Nasiru Saminu granted the accused persons bail on self recognition and adjourned the case to February 9 and 10, 2017.