By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
The Court case between Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command and Journalist Idibia Achadu Gabriel holding at Magistrate court 2 Daura Road in Kaduna has again been adjourned to 25th January 2024 for definite hearing.
Mr. Idibia, Head Bureau, Northern Operations, Daybreak Nigeria newspapers is standing trial on alleged intimidation, defamation of character, insulting and attempt to instigate religious crises.
The Journalist had, in September 24th 2023, did a news report and published in Daybreak newspapers, on poor 2023 Hajj. exercise organized by Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, which led to his arrests, arraignment and subsequently remand in prison custody.
The case which was adjourned twice since the hearing commenced on 12th and 14th December 2023, respectively, was due to inability of the prosecuting party to provide court with all necessary offensive materials.
The Defense Counsel, Barrister J.S Kure had earlier, in an application asked the prosecuting party to furnished the court with all the offensive materials required for the prosecution of the case.
When the case came up on 41th December 2023, for hearing, the prosecuting officer Bitrus Kwaji said they’re not ready, adding that the Investigation Police Officer (IPO), Danladi Hassan, was bereaved, and unavailable to provide the said materials to be tendered in Court, and therefore pleaded for a new date.
Responding, the defendant Counsel Barr. Kure said ordinarily, he would have asked for cost, but pleaded with the court to adjourned the matter for definite commencement of hearing which was expressly granted by the magistrate, for 25th January 2024.
“The prosecutor said they are not ready, ordinarily, I would have ask for cost, but i did not. I then pleaded with the court to adjourned the matter for definite commencement of hearing”, Kure stated.
The prosecutor had earlier, told the court that Mr. Idibia took a shot of pictures of Muslim women and men and posted same content to the social media mischievously, alleging they were sleeping together, with an intention to instigate religious crises and allegation which is not backed by the story published by Daybreak newspapers
