Lawmaker, ex-council boss docked
From Aliyu Muhammad, Gombe

A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Charles Iliya and Mr Ubayo D. Kedeng, former chairman of Billiri local government area of Gombe state, were docked over charges of criminal conspiracy, transpass and inciting disturbance in Billiri recently.
They were charged along with 12 others, who were also accused of criminal trespass, mischief and intimidation as enumerated by the Police First Information Report (FIR) at a Chief Magistrate Court in Gombe.
The accused were arraigned before the court for instigating youths that led to a forcefull enterance into the residence of one Mr N.A. Keftin, a lecturer with the Federal University of Technology, Yola, pulled down its wall, damaged some bags of cement and threatened the life of the Keftin’s family.
However, the police informed the court that the alleged offences are punishable under sections 97, 114, 348, 327 and 397 of the penal code. The plea of the accused could not be entertained upon the backdrop that the court has to conduct its own preliminary investigations
Inpector Bakari Yakubu, the Police Prosecuting Officer (PPO), applied for a date to enable police conclude their investigation and commence prosecution in earnest. The application could not be objected by the counsel to the accused and accordingly granted by the court.
Abdulsalam Jatau, the presiding Judge adjourned the case to January 23, 2007 for hearing and the two suspects were granted bail to the sum of N50, 000.00 and one surety each on the same amount. The sureties must be residents of Gombe and should also swear to an affidavit, as well as to deposit their passport photographs with the registrar of the court.
Daily Triumph, gathered that the two main suspects were conspicuously absent in court on two different sessions of the court, when the case was first mentioned and when it came up for further hearing, the reason deduced was that they were on police bail, and therefore, could not be reached with court summons.