Bappah Audu Bara, caretaker committee chairman of Kirfi local government area of Bauchi state has allegedly incited his thugs into beating and assaulting a journalist working with Radio Nigeria Globe FM,Bauchi, Abdulrahman Abubakar.
Abdulrahman has filed criminal charges against the caretaker Chairman and one Baba Sule Sade who was accused of leading the thugs that assaulted the journalist.
The complainant, who filed the suit at the Chief Magistrate court in Bauchi for criminal conspiracy, criminal force, assault and criminal intimidation allegedly perpetrated by the LG Chairman, Alhaji Bappah Audu Bara and Baba Sule Sade is seeking redress and asking the honourable court to order the accused persons to compensate him in accordance with the provision of section 78 of the penal code law of Bauchi State.
Abubakar through his counsel Idrees Gambo also prayed that the court, amongst other things, ordered the accused persons to pay the sum of N250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand naira) as cost of prosecution in accordance with the criminal procedure code, law of Bauchi State as well as, take cognisance of the offences of criminal force, assault and criminal intimidation under sections 97, 263, 265 and 397 of the penal code.
In a petition sent to WikkiTimes , Abdulrahman said “I went to carry out my official assignment and while I was there I saw the caretaker chairman and since I had an earlier unfinished business with him, I approached him and informed him that there was a letter that was given to me by the confidential Secretary to commissioner of local government and chieftaincy affairs for onward delivery to him.”
“At the time we met, he demanded for it (the letter) and I went and fetched it from my motorcycle and when I returned, I discovered he is been followed by a crowd. “That I was eager to pass the letter to him because it has been with me since 15th November, 2019 but when I saw him called on the 2nd accused person, I also joined him in his car at the back seat along others”.
Abubakar said, trouble started when the caretaker committee chairman asked him, along others out of his car claiming that he only called the 2nd accused person.
“I started complaining because I felt humiliated, then from nowhere, the 2nd accused person appeared with a stick in his hand and started hitting me with it and before you know, some of his boys (thugs) joined in the beating,” the journalist said in the suit.
According to the suit, when the complainant took to his heel, the thugs gave him a chase but he was saved by a Director at the ministry who locked him in his office.
The suit also alleged that, the complainant lost his IC Recorder valued at about N32,000 and a wallet, containing the sum of N20,000 and some passport photographs.
He stated that, “after the incident, I had to go for medical treatment and checkup and I am currently in a state of fear and shock from the very sudden and unexpected event,” Abubakar said in the suit.
WikkiTimes recalls that there are growing concerns and accusations on some LG Chairmen in Bauchi who are accused of stifling dissent and opposing views.
The state Assembly had recently summoned all the LG Chairmen, frowning at their attitude over allegation of victimization of political opponents.
