A Magistrate Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi has struck out a contempt charge filed against a factional chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Safiyanu Bala.
The defendant was brought to court from the hospital for the continuation of the hearing.
At the resumed sitting, the state prosecutor, Magistrate Abdullahi-Koko, informed the court that he discovered the same matter was already pending before the High Court in Birnin Kebbi.
He therefore urged the court to strike out the case to allow the parties to pursue the matter at the appropriate court.
Counsel to the defence, Mudasir Sani, agreed with the prosecution, confirming that the matter was already before the High Court.
In his ruling, Magistrate Abubakar Abdullahi-Koko held that the case was struck out based on the submissions of both parties.
“The case is hereby struck out,” the magistrate ruled.
Recall that the defendant was dragged to court by Abdulrazak Abubakar, another ADC factional chairman, over alleged violation of a court order and incitement of public disobedience.
At the previous sitting, defence counsel Ahmad Fingilla had walked out of the court after the magistrate declined a request to recuse himself over alleged bias.
