There was jubilation in Jigawa yesterday as commercial and administrative activities were momentarily brought to a halt thursday immediately after the Magistrate Court in Dutse granted former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido, bail.
Lamido was sent to Kiyawa prison on Tuesday by the Chief Magistrate of court 22, Muhammad Lamin, after he was brought before the court by the Zone 1 Police Headquarters, Kano.
At the state secretariat, workers hurriedly closed for the day and began celebration and praying to God for the release of the ex-governor whom they regard as “Leader of the masses.”
It was also learnt that majority of the politicians loyal to the PDP and some factions of the APC also joined hundreds of the people to celebrate Lamido’s freedom.
Lamido was also led by hundreds of cars and motorcycles in a motorcade to his country home in Bamaina of Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of the state.
It was also learnt that food vendors along Kiyawa, Bakin Kasuwa and Danmasara roads offered free foods and drinks to the people as part in their solidarity with the former governor’s release from prison.
However, before his release on self-recognition, Lamido arrived the court amid heavy security, with a happy face.
The prosecutor, Ikenna Ekpunobi, had argued that the former governor should not be granted bail as he could jeopardise the peace in the state.
The magistrate, Lamin, disagreed with the counsel, and rejected a police report tendered allegedly linking the former governor to violence by his supporters.
The counsel to Lamido, Felix John, argued that his client remained innocent until proven guilty.
He said the evidence upon which the former governor was being tried was documentary and as such, there was no witness to influence. He said Lamido, being a former governor, could not jump bail. The magistrate ruled that the charge against Lamido – inciting violence – was bailable.
He said: “There is no evidence before the court that if the accused person is granted bail, he will jump bail and no evidence other people will commit similar offence, and that the accused will jeopardise peace of the state.”
The Chief Magistrate therefore adjourned the case to July 5 for further hearing.
