Youths armed with stones and other dangerous objects� took over the Shendam Road surroundings of the Federal High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State yesterday and unleashed mayhem soon after� the arraignment of former state governor Aliyu Akwe Doma by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged corrupt offences. They disrupted traffic and stoned some vehicles in the security convoy as they left the court premises to head back to Abuja.�
The rioters attacked a convoy of vehicles belonging to associates of the former governor, mostly members of the People?s Democratic Party (PDP) as well as officials that served in his cabinet. Their convoy of cars was trailing behind the EFCC vehicles.� One of the rioters launched a spear at the vehicle of the state PDP chairman Chief Yunana Iliya. The spear hit the black-coloured Toyota Prado Jeep with registration number CP110C28 and wounded the former commissioner for information Barrister Mamman Alakayi, who was sitting in the vehicle, in his right ear.�
The PDP chairman as well as former deputy governor John Michael Abdul and the PDP National Vice Chairman (North-Central) Alhaji Yusuf Ayitogo were all unhurt, but at least three vehicles in their convoy were smashed.
The convoy left the court premises at 2:58pm after the presiding judge, Justice Marcel Awokulehin ordered the former governor to be remanded in the custody of the EFCC because the addresses by prosecution and defence lawyers were not harmonized.
No sooner had the convoy hit Shendam Road from the alley that leads to the court that both pro and anti-Doma youths that had assembled all along the road with placards began trying to out-chant one another. A free-for-all fight quickly ensued, with anti-Doma rioters overwhelming their opponents.
The youths also trailed the convoy, running for several metres, from Shendam Motor Park to Water Board, where they held up and disrupted traffic. They hit at the vehicles, chanting anti-Doma slogans, compelling armed policemen in the EFCC convoy as well as the team of armed soldiers and policemen to break the attack with teargas.
Teargas thrown at the dozens of violent youths affected homes and business places at the adjoining Low Cost Quarters, as women and children were seen fleeing in different directions. A secondary school boy who was returning from school fainted from tear gas. His mother was heard screaming for help.
Doma was arraigned after EFCC operatives produced him in court at about 8:55am. He was taken there in a Toyota Coaster bus with registration BR739BWR, alongside his former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Timothy Anthony Anjide, and the former Accountant General, Dauda Egwa.
Other accused persons charged alongside Doma, but who went there in their private vehicles were a serving House of Representatives member, Rep Abdulmumini Jibrin, Senator John Danboyi, and Suleiman Ibrahim. Aigbakhode John and three corporate bodies: Incapint Nigeria Limited, Broworks Limited, Green Forest Investment Limited were also charged but did not appear in court. They faced 15-count charges involving about N18 billion, but all answered ?not guilty.?
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EFCC lead counsel Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) presented the charges against Doma and the nine others before counsel to Doma, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) came up with a written application for bail. He argued that his client had been incarcerated for 12 days without trial, citing violation of constitutional provisions. Justice Awokulehin took the decision to adjourn the case after a three hour stand down on the request of the EFCC to enable him present a composite counter affidavit to the bail application to Doma and the 8 others that were in court. The Judge, then stood down the case for three hours to enable the parties harmonize their documents.
Shortly on resumption, the EFCC counsel opposed the bail application presented by Doma?s counsel. Doma?s counsel argued that the EFCC lost its 48 hours grace by detaining the suspects beyond the stipulated period, insisting that Doma be given bail. Justice Awokulehin decided to adjourn the case until today, to allow for harmonized addresses.
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