A Kano State High Court presided over by Justice Jamilu Shehu Suleiman has changed the bail conditions placed on Islamic cleric Ibrahim Abdullahi Isa, who is accused of forging title documents for two landed properties on Ahmadu Bello Way in Kano Metropolis.
The preacher was accused of forging land title documents initially with the names Kassim Usman Baba and Audu Yaro Fagge.
On January 21, he was charged and then sentenced to strict bail restrictions at the Senior Magistrate Court, presided over by Mustapha Sa’ad Datti.
The defendant was first given N20 million bail, with two reputable sureties in the same amount.
The court further ruled that one of the sureties must be a traditional leader with an official letter from the Kano Emirate Council.
According to the magistrate, the other surety must be a notable businessman with landed property worth N50 million in the Kano Metropolis.
The presiding magistrate also ordered the clergyman to deposit his international passport with the court registry.
However, after failing to comply with the bail conditions for two weeks, the cleric approached the Kano State High Court, presided over by Justice Suleiman, on Wednesday, through his counsel, Barrister Abubakar Abdullahi Isa and Bashir Sabiu, seeking a review of the defendant’s bail conditions.
In his argument, the attorney contended that the defendant’s offense is bailable and that the trial magistrate’s terms were excessively strict, and he requested a relaxation.
After hearing arguments from both lawyers, Justice Suleiman ruled that N5 million should replace the N20 million previously imposed by the trial magistrate.
Justice Suleiman further ordered that two reliable sureties be produced, one being his counsel, Barrister Abubakar Abdullahi Isa, and the other any of his siblings who will sign an affidavit of means.
