Court Threatens To Revoke Sacked JAMB Deputy Director’s Bail
Justice H. A. Musa of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Apo, on Tuesday, threatened to revoke the bail granted to Mr Yisa Usman, the sacked Deputy Director of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
Usman was accused of improper conduct during his trial.
The police had arraigned Usman on a two-count charge bordering on character assassination and giving false information on a public servant.
The suit marked CR/654/2024, dated and filed on July 18, 2024, had Usman named as the sole defendant.
The police alleged that on June 6, 2022, Usman at JAMB National Headquarters in Abuja assassinated the character of Mabel Ishaku, an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 392 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria.
In count two, Usman was alleged to have, on or about June 6, 2022, at JAMB office in Abuja, given “false information to a public servant and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 140(b) of the Penal Code Law of the Northern Nigeria.”
He was later granted administrative bail after pleading not guilty to the two counts.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, the police prosecution, N. Orji, informed the court that the attempt by parties to settle out of court, as advised by the judge on December 10, 2024, has failed.
She informed the court that attempts were made to explore the possibility of a settlement, but that the defendant came up with a write-up which proves he is not ready for settlement. Based on this, she stated their willingness to proceed with the case.
Justice Musa directed that the write-up be read by the clerk in open court, which was done.
The judge addressing both parties said, “Once you want to settle, you don’t look at the events at the back, what is the problem?” he asked.
“My lord, settlement has failed and we are ready to proceed with the trial. Our PW1 (first prosecution witness) is here,” Orji said.
The judge then called up PW1, Mabel Ishaku, to step forward and explain what happened.
Ishaku said she was mentioned in the report the defendant wrote, though not directly, but the statements he made were defamatory and he refused to retract them.
“From the tone of the letter, he has brought out some points that is still inditing me,” Ishaku said.
Responding, Usman said he only made a draft letter which expresses his desire to settle and sent to Ishaku but she was yet to respond to it.
The judge, unhappy with the development, told them he still believes this is a case that can be settled out of court amicably.
“I am only doing this because I am descending, not ascending. I will soon retire from service
“What I am doing is to reconcile you because I know God will reward me.
“If you are not interested in the settlement, we should proceed. It looks as if we are for forcing you. We are not forcing you,” the judge told Usman.
Usman, insisting he was not ready to withdraw his petitions also mentioned his the case he filed at the National Industrial Court, Abuja against the board
“I will like the matter to go on,” he told the judge.
Visibly upset, Justice Musa warned Usman against talking disrespectfully to the court
“I revoke your bail, you will go back to prison today!,” the judge told him.
“Go and petition the NJC, I cannot tolerate this kind of nonsense, you cannot be taking to me this way.
“Look at what he said, ‘I want the case to proceed,’ even with Impunity. No, I’m revoking your bail,” the judge told Usman.
Usman’s counsel, O.W. Bamigbaye, apologised to the court for the behavior of his client.
Following the development, the judge ordered the prosecution to call their first witness who had earlier scheduled for cross-examination.
During cross-examination by Bamigbaye, Ishaku explained that she works in the office if the IGP but deployed to Interpol.
She said she met Usman for the first time at Delta State University of Science and Technology, Abraka, the venue of the UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) that took place in 2023, where she went undercover for an investigation.
Asked about how she identified herself to be at the Venue, Ishaku said, “I announced that I was the Assistant supervisor for JAMB but I was there as Undercover. I arrived same day as Usman and left the following day after completing my assignment.”
She said the defamatory statement in his report was not only about her but also a about her organization.
“It is not just about me, but my organization, you know the reputation the police has in this country. He quoted by name, phone number and others, exposing me to libel. He went ahead to malign me,” she said.
After cross-examination, Justice Musa adjourned the proceedings until May 6, 13 and 14 for the continuation of the trial.
Court Threatens To Revoke Sacked JAMB Deputy Director’s Bail is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
