TheCable

A federal high court in Kano has granted bail to Alhassan Doguwa, majority leader of the house of representatives.

Doguwa is on trial over alleged criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, unlawful possession of a firearm, mischief, and public disturbance.

On Monday, Nuraini Jimoh, the defendant’s counsel, appealed to the court to grant bail to Doguwa, while arguing that his client is presumed innocent.

Ruling on the bail application, Yunusa Muhammad, the presiding judge, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N500 million with two sureties.

The judge said the sureties must be a first-class emir and a senior officer in civil service.

He ordered Doguwa to drop his international passport at the court registry.

The court also restrained him from going to his constituency during the March 11 governorship and state assembly elections.

The case was adjourned till April 10 for the continuation of trial.

On February 28, Doguwa was arrested at the Mallam Aminu Kano international airport while boarding a flight to Abuja.

He was arrested after police received a report that he led thugs to set ablaze the secretariat of the NNPP in Kano, with two persons feared dead.

In a press briefing hours before his arrest, Doguwa denied the allegation that supporters of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), were responsible for the fire that gutted the secretariat of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in Tudun Wada LGA of the state.

Doguwa also said he learnt that the police were looking for him but said he had not received any formal invitation.

“I never held a gun. I don’t even know how to hold a gun. I also never held any weapon throughout the election,” he had said.

On March 1, a magistrate court sitting in Kano remanded Doguwa in prison.