Ganduje raises panel to probe varsities, others
The Upper Sharia Court in Kano, yesterday, ordered the remand of a controversial Islamic scholar, Abduljabbar Kabara, following a fresh application for additional charges by the state government.
The police first arraigned Kabara, who is currently standing trial on two counts of blasphemy and public disturbance, on July 15, 2021, before Ibrahim Yola.
At the resumption of the hearing, yesterday, the prosecution counsel, Aishatu Mahmoud, informed the court of the intention of the government to opt-out of the First Information Report (FIR) on the accused.
According to the prosecution, the police’s charges and point of argument may not be sufficient enough to build the ground for the substantive suit.
“We have applied before the court to file additional charges against the accused because the government needed additional grounds to argue and prove the matter before the court. To the glory of God, the court has granted the application,” the prosecution counsel noted.
She, therefore, asked the court to adjourn for a month to enable it to prepare the additional charges and provide witnesses and writing documents.
But the defence lead counsel, Saleh Bakaro, countered the move by prosecution to opt-out of the FIR, 12 days after his client was arraigned and remanded.
The defense further protested against the one-month request by the prosecution, insisting that the constitution only provides 14 days adjournment for trial bordering on capital punishment.
The court adjourned till August 18, 2021, for the re-arraignment of the cleric.
MEANWHILE, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, yesterday, inaugurated a 48- member visitation panel to investigate reports and other pressing challenges in state-owned tertiary institutions.
The panel, which was inaugurated after five years of absence, will probe vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts over alleged financial misappropriation and other academic challenges. It is also expected to conduct a staff audit.
It will cover eight tertiary institutions including Kano University of Science and Technology (KUST), Wudil; Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano State Polytechnic, and Sa’adatu Rimi College of Education.
Addressing the panel, Governor Ganduje reminded the members to critically examine the management of finance, revenue generation, and compliance to regulations guiding the institutions.
