The application to throw out the case against a former governor of the state, Alhaji Sule Lamido, who had been standing trial before the court since June was rejected by a Jigawa State Chief Magistrate Court II, sitting in Dutse, on Wednesday.
Lamido was arraigned on a four-count charge of inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace, defamation of character, including criminal intimidation, which is contrary to Section 144, 113, 397 and 372 of Jigawa State penal code.
The Chief Magistrate, Mohammed Lamin, in his ruling on Wednesday, rejected the application to stop the case against the former governor.
He submitted that the counsel to the defendant failed to convince the court based on evidence provided that the trial was an abuse of court procedure.
Also, the Chief Magistrate rejected the argument earlier advanced by the Counsel for the Defendant, Barrister Yakubu Ruba, that the Attorney-General of the state lacked the jurisdiction, citing Section 393 of the Penal code.
He argued that according to the First Information Report of the case, the former governor was arraigned for inciting disturbance, disturbance of public peace, defamation of character and criminal intimidation, contrary to Section 144, 113, 397 and 372 of Jigawa State penal code and not in accordance with Section 393 of the penal code.
Similarly, he dismissed the submission of the counsel for the defendant that the four charges were interwoven and that if one was thrown out, the rest should also be thrown out, saying that all the charges were made under different sections of the law and that they were independent of another.
Dissatisfied with the outcome, Barrister Ruba said his client would appeal against the judgment.
The Chief Magistrate adjourned the case till October 11 for hearing.
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