The police on Monday arraigned two suspects, Bilyaminu Aliyu and Aminu Hukunci before a Chief Magistrate Court in Sokoto over the killing of Deborah Samuel, a student accused of blasphemy.
The suspects, alongside the victim, were students of Shehu Shagari College of Education, Sokoto.
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Deborah, who hailed from Tungan Magajiya in Rijau Local Government Area of Niger State, was killed and her corpse burnt.
In the First Information Report (FIR), Prosecuting Police Officer, Insp. Khalil Musa told the court that the suspects were accused of participating in a disturbance act that led to Deborah’s death on May 12.
Musa said an investigation was in progress.
When the charges were read, the accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The lead Defense Counsel, Prof. Mansur Ibrahim, applied for bail on behalf of the accused persons.
Ibrahim urged the court to grant the accused persons bail on liberal terms, citing constitutional provisions and sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
The trial judge (name and court location withheld for security reasons) reserved the ruling on the bail application and ordered the accused to be remanded in correctional custody.
During the arraignment, cameras and other recording gadgets were barred from the court premises.
