Sunday, July 6, 2025 - The Chief Magistrate Court III sitting in Yola, Adamawa State, has remanded a philanthropist in the state, Dr Emmanuel Musa, and three others in prison custody for the brutal m8rder of Thomas Godwin, popularly known as Zamfara.
The deceased was killed by some assailants in April,
2025.
Dr. Musa, the president of the Emmanuel Foundation, had
declared earlier this year that he would like to run for governor of Adamawa
State in 2027.
The court's chief magistrate, Uwani Danladi Mohammed,
ordered the accused to be placed under remand in prison custody and postponed
the case until July 7, 2025, so the DPP could provide legal counsel.
Among the defendants arraigned in court are Dr. Emmanuel N.
Musa, Danlami Nuhu, Ibrahim Bakari (also known as Mai Cross), Stephen Peter
(who is still at large), and Godwin Chukukuyada.
The four accused persons were arraigned on a two-count
charge of criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide contrary to Sections 60 and
191 of the Adamawa State Penal Code 2018, as amended.
According to the First Information Report (FIR) tendered in
court, the accused had attacked the late Thomas Godwin Zamfara, who was on his
way from Fadama Rake to Kala’a, his hometown, on 15th April 2025.
The prosecution narrated that the deceased was left
unconscious on the roadside and that he was rushed to the hospital where he was
confirmed dead by a medical doctor.
The prosecution further informed the court that it was Dr
Emmanuel N. Musa who instigated and sponsored the defendants to carry out the
act.
Counsel to the prosecution, Ezekiel Gidauna Esq., applied
for the substitution of the FIR dated 19th May 2025 with the one dated 4th July
2025.
Counsel to the accused persons, G. C. Adikwu, who appeared
alongside M. I. El-Yakub, objected to the application to substitute what,
according to him, they do not have.
The court, while ruling on the objection raised by the counsels to the defendants, ordered that the FIR be substituted, read, and interpreted to the accused persons in a language they would understand.
When the FIR was read and interpreted to the defendants in
the Hausa language, the defendants said they understood the allegations.
However, there was no plea taking as the case is on holding charge.
Addressing the court on its failure to ask the defendants
whether they were guilty or not, G. C. Adikwu argued that the provision of the
law is that whenever the defendants are asked whether they understand the
allegations against them, they must also be asked whether they are guilty or
not.
The police arrested nine suspects in connection with the
m8rder.
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